atv death in lady lake

[tallyt]

This was in the Daily Commercial paper in Leesburg. Sad news for our sport.
Joshua Davidovich
Staff Writer

 
A 13-year old boy was killed Sunday afternoon after he flipped his ATV in a Lady Lake retention pond.

Jeremy Whitehead of Wildwood was not wearing any safety gear when he was killed, according to the Lady Lake police.

Police found Whitehead about 3:15 Sunday afternoon after responding to complaints of people racing dirt bikes and four-wheelers near the April Hill subdivision.

Lady Lake Police Chief Ed Nathanson said police were questioning a 29-year-old Lady Lake man who provided the bike to Whitehead. State law requires all-terrain vehicle drivers to be at least 16 years-old.

   


 

"We are looking into all aspects of the incident," Nathanson said.

Police said Whitehead was riding alone when he was killed. Nathanson said the ATV was in fifth gear when they found him, indicating he had been speeding across the dry retention pond on East Primrose Lane.

"It was wide open when he flipped," Nathanson said. "It was avoidable."

[Ida_Mann]

dang, heard about this on the radio.

prayers for the kid's family.

Id@

[USFfishing]

that is terrible.  Too young to be riding alone and helmets should always be worn.  Wow  this is terrible.
prayers for the familyl

[Hawgin4x4]

I knew him personally..He was a very good friend of mine. I always told him to wear a helmet..There is a link at the bottom of my page..His father "Sonny" is in the Vocal Drop band..They have a donation foundation setup..If anyone is interested in donating pm me, so i can get you set-up with the lady..

My prayers are with Sonny, Dawn, Jacob, Katie, and Jo-Jo...


Matt aka 400mph

[GrizzlyBear]

If he had taken a safety course, maybe he would be alive.

[gearhead400]

My prayers go out to his family. How many stories like this do people have to hear before it hits them that safety gear is made for a reason!

[Hawgin4x4]

it was a friend of the family's quad, he was riding. he had ridden a few times before.. I cant tell you off hand how much experience he had...but i always told him to wear a helmet..So i mean what more can you do besides give good advice.

[lonewolf310]

the person who let the underaged kid ride it should get manslaughter charges against him. maybe sitting in prison for about 15 years thinking about what he did would maybe get some sence into him

[MedicMudder]

This is a shame!! Awful loss of life,He was just a baby,my prayers and remorse go out to his family. But I have to say
why did the paper say it was a state law that you have to be 16 to operate a atv??? Manslaughter charges aginst
the guy that let the kid ride the bike??? If he had loaned him a bicycle and the kid rode into the road,got hit by a car
would any one be talking about charges aginst him?

[MadMudder]

Yeah I agree. Its not a law anywhere that you have to be 16 to ride an atv. Mabye some states make it a law that you have to agree to the CPSC laws but I dont think its illegal period. Its really sad when a fellow rider is lost but when your riding that fast around a retention pond with no saftey gear then your asking for trouble. I hate to sound harsh espically the people who knew this kid but we all know that that was a very poor decsion. About the manslaughter thing, its a good idea but we dont know that those parents told him that he couldnt ride and he did anyway. Also I ride a 250 which I guess is aginst the law where this happened but I know how to handle the bike and its well within my skill level. The parents probably knew he could handle the bike and underage is anything bigger then a 90. Not to mention that it may have been just a rock or something breaking or poor judgement on his part. There are any number of things that could have happened so I wouldnt go pointing fingers unless we know more information.

[backinsaddle]

this is sad, my prayers to the family

state law:
Section 316.2074, F.S. All-terrain vehicles
"(3) No person under 16 years of age shall operate, ride, or be otherwise propelled on an allterrain
vehicle unless the person wears a safety helmet meeting United States Department
of Transportation standards and eye protection."