Fatal_ATVAn Illinois man died Tuesday as a result of an ATV accident in Plymouth.

This past Saturday the Marshall County 911 Center received a call about 6:15 P.M. for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) accident at a residence, located in the area of 12th Road and Queen Road.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Natural Resources, Plymouth Fire and EMS responded to the incident.   37 year old, Joseph R. Wilma from Villa Park, IL had been driving an ATV and ran into some large rocks.  On the scene he complained of pain to his lower legs and chest.  Mr. Wilma was treated on scene by the Plymouth EMS and transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.  He was then transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital.

During accident investigation conducted by the DNR and the Sheriff’s Department, it was believed that alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department along with the Department of Natural Resources would like to remind citizens that All-terrain vehicles are powerful machines that should not be considered toys for children, and riders should take safety precautions.  The following safety precautions should be taken when riding:

  1. Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.  Wear your helmet! It could save your life.
  2. Never ride on paved roads except to cross when done safely and permitted by law – another vehicle could hit you. ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway.
  3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  4. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider ATV, and no more than one passenger on an ATV specifically designed for two people.  Don’t exceed manufacturer’s passenger or weight limits
  5. Ride an ATV that’s right for your age.
  6. Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys.
  7. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.

There are on-line courses that can be taken to assist in ATV education safety.  Offroad ED is committed to off-road education safety. Offroad ED works with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to produce an ATV safety education course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand.  For more information concerning the safety education course search http://www.offroad-ed.com/indiana/ or contact the Department of Natural Resources. 

 

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