On Saturday, November 26, 2022, at about 3:05 pm, New York State Police responded to the area of Batter Street in Duanesburg, Schenectady County, NY, for the report of an ATV accident with injuries.
According to the officers responding, a preliminary investigation determined an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) being operated on the roadway by 17-year-old Connor Summerfield of Howes Cave, Schoharie County, NY, with a 14-year-old passenger exited the road and struck an earth embankment.
Summerfield and the passenger were ejected from the ATV. The passenger suffered minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital. Summerfield suffered severe injuries and was transported to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
State Police were assisted by the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office, Mariaville Fire Department, Duanesburg Volunteer Ambulance Corp., Mohawk Ambulance, and LifeNet of New York.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing.
According to a study by the Consumer Product and Safety Commission, in the 25 years between 1982 and 2018 there were at least 15,744 ATV-related fatalities, not including utility-terrain vehicles or UTVs. Of these deaths, 3,353, about 1 in 5, were children younger than 16. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2018 80-90% of deaths the victims were not wearing helmets.
You do not need a driver license to operate an ATV in New York State, but certain restrictions apply to operators under age 16. Those age 10 through age 15 may operate an ATV only under adult supervision; or, without adult supervision on lands owned or leased by your parent or guardian; or, on any lands where ATV use is permitted, without adult supervision, if you have completed an ATV safety training course approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are under age 10, you may operate an ATV only under adult supervision; or, without adult supervision on lands owned or leased by your parent or guardian.
Adult Supervision means being accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age, or a person 16 or 17 years of age who holds an ATV safety course completion certificate from an approved safety course provider.
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