An 11-year-old boy died in a devastating ATV accident while riding with two others and a pet dog during a family trip in West Virginia.
The incident occurred on Monday, June 26. The young boy from Ohio was riding in a side-by-side four-wheeler with his 12-year-old brother and their cousin’s 18-year-old boyfriend when the family’s pet dog inadvertently caused the crash, according to a spokesperson from the Kermit Volunteer Fire Department.
Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Williamson recounted the unfortunate sequence of events. He said that the family dog had joined the boys in the ATV. Unexpectedly, the dog leaped onto the floorboard and accidentally pressed the accelerator pedal. This action caused the vehicle to swerve off the road, go over an embankment and crash violently. Williamson expressed his dismay, remarking, “Who would have ever thought a house dog would jump down in the floorboard of a side-by-side and do that?”
While the boys’ cousin and a teenage girl were riding in another ATV ahead of them, they quickly rushed back to their nearby home to call for emergency help. The lack of cell phone service in the area necessitated the rush to a location with reception to contact 911. Tragically, the 11-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The two remaining passengers in the ATV sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. The dog suffered only minor injuries.
Williamson shared that the young boy had expressed his desire to have one last ride on the ATV before returning home with his family later that day.
The assistant fire chief expressed his deep sorrow, stating, “It’s just heartbreaking for everybody. Everybody involved needs all the prayers they can get.”