Two killed in Northwoods ATV accidents

Two people, including a four-year-old child, were killed in separate all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents in the Northwoods over the recent holiday weekend.

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, a call came in at approximately 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 reporting an ATV accident off of Rueckert Road in the town of Pelican.

“It was reported that an ATV occupied by three passengers had rolled over trapping one under the ATV,” sheriff’s captain Tyler Young explained in a press release. “The passengers of the ATV were 9, 7, and 4 years old with the 4-year-old being the one trapped under the ATV. Witnesses attempted life-saving measures, however the 4-year-old passenger of the ATV was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Pine Lake First Responders, Rhinelander Fire Department, Rhinelander Police Department, Pelican Fire Department, Oneida County Medical Examiner and Oneida County Ambulance. 

The DNR is completing the accident report, according to the release.

According to the DNR, it is a violation of state law for any person under the age or 12 to operate an ATV unless the ATV is being operated on private land owned by the operator’s immediate family and under the supervision of an adult.

“ATVs and UTVs can be potentially dangerous,” the agency notes in the introduction to its Wisconsin All-Terrain/Utility Terrain Vehicle Laws publication. “They weigh up to 3,000 lbs and oftentimes capable of reaching high speeds. The use of these machines by children should be highly controlled; use of safety equipment such as helmets and safety belts should be the norm. Crashes, injuries and deaths can happen in a split second. Close adult supervision is recommended to ensure that children are operating these machine safely and properly at all times.”

According to the incident report on the Pelican crash, the accident did take place on private land. The report describes the ATV as a full-sized single person ATV.

Vilas County fatality

Several hours earlier, a 49-year-old woman from Portage died as the result of an ATV accident in Conover.

According to the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received at 3:40 p.m. Aug. 31 reporting an ATV accident in the 4000 block of Monheim Road in the town of Conover. The caller reported a female had been ejected from the ATV and was unconscious. The operator was initially transported to Eagle River Aspirus Hospital and then later flown to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau. 

On Monday, Sept. 2, the sheriff’s office was informed by Aspirus Wausau Hospital that the woman had succumbed to her injuries related to the accident. 

Her name was not immediately released pending notification of next of kin. 

According to the crash incident report, the operator/victim was “last in group of four ATVs traveling on a public road. The operator/victim struck the back of one of the leading ATVs and was ejected.”

As of Sept. 3, there have been 26 ATV-related fatalities in Wisconsin so far this year, according to the DNR. 

Conover Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, Aspirus Eagle River Ambulance and DNR assisted the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.