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Gantt man injured in ATV wreck
Published Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A Gantt man was seriously injured Saturday in a 4-wheeler accident.
Bruce Lavon King, 38, was “just a short distance from home” when the accident occurred shortly after 2 p.m., Gantt Police Department spokesman Wesley Snodgrass said.
“Mr. King was traveling north on Victoria Street in Gantt when he attempted to make a right turn (onto Tori Street) and lost control of the ATV,” Snodgrass said. “It then rolled onto Mr. King and he suffered injuries.”
Snodgrass said neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the accident; however he did say King was not wearing a helmet when the accident occurred, which “may have contributed to his injuries.”
“As people know, most accidents occur within two miles of the home,” Snodgrass said. “Mr. King wasn’t traveling at great speeds, but ATVs are dangerous and he wasn’t wearing a helmet.”
King was transported to Andalusia Regional Hospital and was released Sunday. The Covington County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the accident.
According to www.ATVSafety.org, riders should always:
• Wear protective gear when riding.
• Keep feet on the footrests while riding to help prevent injury.
• Close the throttle while shifting to prevent the front wheels from lifting.
• Move your body weight forward and to the inside of a turn, and turn the handlebars while looking in the direction of a turn.
• If an ATV starts to tip while turning, lean your body farther into the turn while gradually reducing the throttle and making the turn wider, if possible.
Comments
Posted by realtrucker (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did he get a ticket for being on the street illegally?
Posted by gladtobefromandy (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The mans hurt for goodness sake.. And besides.. Its the backwoods.. it aint like theres bumper to bumper traffic..
Posted by realtrucker (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As someone who spends all day every day driving the "backwoods" I can't tell you how many times these atv's don't yield the right of way to legal vehicles and nearly get themselves and others killed. They don't need to be on any roadways, backwoods or not. And yes, he should be ticketed.
Posted by robjohn (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they need to implement mechanical speed limiters on them. You can be the safest driver and slip up once and kill yourself. My son nearly died from his one and only slip up. I crushed a lower vertebrae due to a simple mistake.
Posted by lakin (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These things are made for the road and people simply shouldn't be driving them in such a way. Backwoods or not, there is a proper place for these ATV's to be ridden, and on a road, with huge trucks that can turn a man's skull into jello, isn't that place.
He should be ticketed, if not worse, because a worse situation could have happened if he'd been hit by a car. Everyone needs to learn the lesson.
Posted by lakin (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I meant they ARE NOT made for the road.
Posted by andyblogger (anonymous) on August 23, 2009 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know what? People can say what they want about ATV's but you know as well as i do if you have one you are going to ride it. There ARE proper places to take them and ride but when you live out in the country it doesnt hurt anything to ride on dirt roads. (EVERYONE DOES IT THAT HAS ONE) He was right by his house when he wrecked, so for those of you that want to criticize him, his friends and family are thankful that he is ALIVE. The outcome could have been alot worse. Who cares if he got a ticket or not! What business is that of yours? People amaze me, they are always willing to put their two cents into other peoples business when they should mind their own.
Posted by mtchlljason (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So quick to spat off at the mouth, And even quicker when your are in the privacy of your home. Thats whats wrong no sympathy for mankind. If this was someone you knew and cared for you would be singing a different tune. But you that criticize him are probably one of those perfect humans that never does anything wrong?
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