By Staff
Published/Last Modified on Monday, May 5, 2008 4:10 AM MDT
OURAY COUNTY — An ATV accident involving three teenagers resulted in life-threatening injuries for one passenger, according to a Ouray County Sheriff’s Office investigator.
Just before 9:30 a.m. Sunday, the Montrose Regional Dispatch received a 911 call regarding an ATV accident on Dave Wood Road.
An 18-year-old male passenger, who was riding in between two 19-year-old males in a Polaris Ranger, sustained major head injuries and was transported to Montrose Memorial Hospital, according to a news release. The passenger was later airlifted to St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction and was in critical condition.
OCSO Investigator Joel Burk did not know the exact cause of the accident as of Sunday evening. He did say that the Ranger rolled from one switchback, down an embankment approximately 150 feet, to a lower switchback. He said he did not know how many times the vehicle rolled. The Ranger did have a roll bar and safety restraints; however, as far as Burk was aware, only one passenger was wearing the restraint. None of the persons involved were wearing helmets.
The driver was ejected from the vehicle, but received no major injuries. The other passenger remained with the vehicle during the accident and received minor head and leg injuries, according to the release. That passenger was transported to MMH by a private vehicle.
As of Sunday, the sheriff’s office would not release the names of the teens involved, but Burk said he believed them to be Montrose County residents.
The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and rescue personnel initially responded to the scene. However, Burk said that after the scene was cleared it was determined the accident happened about 1.25 miles south of the Montrose/Ouray county line on private property.
The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating.
