Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
An 11-year-old girl is dead after an ATV driven by her step-sister flipped on a trail at a private campground near Salkum.
She was a passenger on the quad, and after it wrecked, the sister ran back to camp as much as a mile away to get help, according to responders.
It happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Cowlitz Timber Trails on the 1900 block of Spencer Road along the Cowlitz River, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said the 11-year-old driver said they had come to a sharp corner, and though they weren’t going very fast, she knew the ATV was going to flip and told her sister to jump. She didn’t jump and the ATV ended up on its side with the passenger’s head pinned beneath one tire, fender and rail, Brown said.
The 11-year-old driver ran back to the campground to get help and when a resident of the campground arrived to the victim, the child wasn’t breathing, according to Brown.
Both had been wearing helmets, Brown said.
Multiple members of Lewis County Fire District 8 responded to the 5:08 p.m. call to the scene, found adults performing CPR on the girl and took over, transporting her to Morton General Hospital.
Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said they called for airlift, while other responders retrieved the 11-year-old driver from the camp for her suspected injuries.
Both girls ended up at the Morton Hospital. Airlift wasn’t needed. Brown said the driver’s injuries were very minor.
The girls are from Graham, according to Brown.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Well minimum age for unsupervised ATV riding is 16. Also ATV’s specifically state no passengers. This isn’t a great example of ATV’s being dangerous to children, it’s an example of ignorant parents not actually watching their kids. Don’t be a helicopter parent but you don’t just let the kids do whatever the heck they want to do.
This is very sad. I see little kids out “having fun” and always say things like this are a very, very bad idea. I get told to lighten up and “let the kids live a little”. Well these parents let their kids engage in a dangerous activity and it killed one and probably damaged the other for life. It is so very heartbreaking.
omg so sorry for the loss of a child with so much to live for. i have ridden those trails and so have my kids and grandkids yes they are dangerous and an adult should be with them to show them the ropes. have had relatives hurt on them and dont wish for anyone to go through this kind of pain. yes they are fun but they need repair or a way to call for help.the buddy system should be required and that doesnt mean riding double go with a freind who rides another bike so they can go for help if needed.
By, as in proximity to.
Killed by Cowlitz River? This child was killed in an ATV accident on trails.
The Sleeping Giant says:
Monday, June 22, 2015 at 5:56 pm
A Florida couple was arrested and their son kidnapped By CPS for allowing their son to play basketball in the backyard for 90 minutes while he waited for his parents to return…
Looked it up and found the real story, not the shock pages. Yes it happened and the law guidelines were promptly changed to address this poorly written law.
None of which has anything to do with the child getting killed by the Cowlitz River; does it?
XDs – It’s not about being “holier than thou”. It’s hoping that this tragedy will wake up some of the parents who do not supervise their children while operating ATVs.
The trails at that park should NOT be ridden by any child without adult supervision. I wish no children were allowed to ride/drive any motorized vehicle (ATV, motorcycle, golf cart) without an adult present. I have seen young elementary school aged children driving golf carts without an adult. How can a 6 year old comprehend driving rules such as right of way?
Some straight up holier than thou people in here, I’m sure glad that we all have the Judge Judy’s & Mayberry’s finest in here.
Very sad to hear about this tragic accident. My sincere condolences to the family of the young lady.
Stay on “TASK” Seeping Giant! lol!
Sleeping Giant needs to really go beddy bye. You need sleep because you are insignificant. Tired of your 900 posts of NONSENSE.
Free air Just type in the search words, florida kid kidnapped by cps while playing basket ball….. thats what i mean by you wont look it up. Google Search. Its almost if i dont link it know one has the patience to discover it for themselves. I have discarded the television because its total agenda based propaganda lies handed down by treasonist elite feeding the American Sheep has made me realize dont watch the lies or you will never know the truth. As for the State of Florida being not Washington your right. But the CPS machine does whatvit likes to your children. The cases of CPS child kidnaping rings are real. Look that up also Free Air…
I suppose these people used their government earned income rebate to purchase the ATV. Very sad waste of money. Big shots just became duds.
Yep, nothing like neighborhood kids flying through the vacant lot on their 2-speed kick back Schwinns. Creating a track merely by riding. No noise, no gas expense……………….Just weeeeeeeeeeee as background noise. ATV’s are nothing more than BIG $ “LOOKY AT ME!” I hope POWERSPORTS goes out of business.
ATV’S are a total money making Profit of about 1000 percent and a SCOURGE to society!
I was water skiing on 2 skis at age 5. By 6 years old i was on a single ski. By the time I was 12, I could drive the boat for my Dad while he skied. I could jump off the boat, change a prop on the motor in the middle of the Columbia River. Oh, and by the way…….. my parents drank, made their own brew, and we Never had an issue. Responsibility comes in many forms. Unfortunate situation. DON”T Judge.
Follows Rules says:
Monday, June 22, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Three acts of negligence in the parents’ part:
1. Allowing children to ride double.
2. Allowing children under 16 to ride.
3. Not supervising children while they are riding.
I don’t want to kick these people during the worst time in their lives. However, they made decisions that not only killed one of their children but probably severely psychologically damaged another one. I’m not sure how authorities should handle this. They have already paid the ultimate price.
Same thing happened last year up near the Cispus. Too bad lessons were not remembered by all.
The Sleeping Giant says:
Monday, June 22, 2015 at 5:56 pm
A Florida couple was arrested and their son kidnapped By CPS for allowing their son to play basketball in the backyard for 90 minutes while he waited for his parents to return…
Uhmm, Different state for openers, so no idea if the laws are the same. Going beyond that:
Age of child?
Was there history of child neglect there?
Does the kid have mental or emotional issues that would make that dangerous for them to be alone?
There’s a whole bucket of no information in your story that could have made this a very reasonable action by cops.
Three acts of negligence in the parents’ part:
1. Allowing children to ride double.
2. Allowing children under 16 to ride.
3. Not supervising children while they are riding.
I don’t want to kick these people during the worst time in their lives. However, they made decisions that not only killed one of their children but probably severely psychologically damaged another one. I’m not sure how authorities should handle this. They have already paid the ultimate price.
Sleeping giant: I read your first post wrong. I thought you were calling for the 11 year old driver to be charged. I agree the adults who allowed this should face some reckoning. You can’t be a troll. They are little and you are a giant ha ha
A Florida couple was arrested and their son kidnapped By CPS for allowing their son to play basketball in the backyard for 90 minutes while he waited for his parents to return. Since its such a Nanny State its only fair that these parents are charged with child abuse just like the Florida Family was. I know you wont look it up
Its just easier to call me a Troll. Yeah its a sad situation but when you allow two people to ride on a machine that says no passengers printed clearly on the motor bike and you are an adult then your the one responsible. This is called child endangerment. So lets not call this an accident they disobeyed the warning clearly printed on the off road vehicles instructions. Oh but im sure someone will say that we did this all the time when we were kids. The warning on the ATV is clear no passengers. Follow the rules stay alive and be a responsible parent. Just like a gun Says dont point at people or fireworks say dont hold in hand. Same goes for the ATV. Child neglect. Rules are rules follow them
The children were a mile away un supervised while riding double on a machine that says no passengers. So im insensitive, no the parents were no responsible for their actions. Cps takes kids away from parents all the time.
When I was 11yrs old I rode my quad at the same park. I am sad to hear of this tragic accident. To that 11yr old driver I say “it wasn’t your fault, you ran like the wind to get help for your sister”.
Kids that age do not have the coordination to be operating ATVs. Sad for the family to lose one child and have another be responsible for the death.
Sleeping Giant: Let’s construct the gallows right in the middle of Yard Birds. Hang em all. How do you charge an 11 year old? Vehicular homicide? If there are any charges it should be against the parents but let them bury their child first okay?
What a tragic loss. Wish life had a rewind button for poor decisions.
Last Friday I saw three quads come down Flynn Road onto Hwy 122 with a two or three year old on the seat, in front of the woman driver.
Life is too precious to be flying down a state highway with a young kid on a quad.
turn down your atv’s power with the screw around the thumb throttle limiting its top speed before letting kids or noobies take it for a spin. Speed kills utility quads are capable of speeds 40+. Better yet use a size appropriate quad for younger riders. 11 years old is too young to be on one of these things. I believe the sticker says 16 and up.
The Sleeping Giant says: What a stupid comment for you to say.!!!
You are an insensitive person aren’t you.? Ignorant
So sad for the loss and what the 11 year old is going to go through just knowing that she was involved in the accident that took her sister. Also so angry that parents would allow young children to ride unsupervised and with passengers!
On the Atv its says no passengers. When will the charges be filed?