TERRE HAUTE — A Georgetown, Ill., man was listed in good condition is Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Wednesday — not dead — as officials mistakenly reported him after an all-terrain vehicle accident on Saturday.
Gary R. Cornwell, 59, was struck in the face by his 2004 Honda four-wheel ATV around 12:45 p.m. after trying a hill on an advanced trail in the Mule Ridge ATV park near Hillsdale. He suffered serious injuries to his face and is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery today, according to friends. Cornwell had no other injuries.
A news release issued to media by Indiana Conservation Officers had reported that Cornwell died after the accident. Conservation officer Max Winchell said he was not certain how officials concluded that Cornwell had died. A news release Wednesday retracted the earlier report, explaining that investigating officers had been informed that Cornwell’s injuries were fatal. “[The original] news release was created from the crash report,” read the later news release.
Stephen L. Cook of Cayuga was riding in the same party with Cornwell and witnessed the accident.
During a phone interview Wednesday, Cook said he told conservation officers who came to investigate that Cornwell had serious injuries, but that he didn’t think they were life-threatening. Cornwell was taken by Lifeline helicopter to Indianapolis after Dana Rescue, Vermillion County EMS and the Hillsdale Fire Department responded to the scene, according to authorities.
Mule Ridge ATV park owner Jason Cox said conservation officers arrived to investigate the accident about an hour and a half after the ambulance left with Cornwell.
Cox said several of Cornwell’s friends stopped by Mule Ridge on Tuesday to give updates on Cornwell’s condition.
“Then I got calls from people [Wednesday] morning telling me all this [incorrect] information,” Cox said. “It was very upsetting.”
Cook, who said he visited Cornwell in the hospital during the day Tuesday, said he was shocked to get a telephone call late Tuesday from a friend indicating that Cornwell had died.
“I knew he didn’t die,” Cook said. “I was just talking to him.”
The Mule Ridge ATV park opened in April. Located on about 500 acres in Vermillion County, the park boasts 35 miles of wooded trails, marked for their level of difficulty.
Cox said he has made every effort to ensure a safe recreational experience for riders.
“When people come in, I tell them about the trail markings and we offer an aerial view map,” he said. “We have trails that are marked green, representing easy trails; yellow, representing more difficult, moderate trails; and red, which are trails for very experienced riders. Then there are some trails that aren’t marked that people have made on their own, and we try to mark those as people make the trails.”
According to witnesses, Cornwell made two attempts to climb a steep hill that was marked for advanced riders. During the first attempt, he drove more than halfway up before his machine lost traction and he rolled back down. On his second attempt, the vehicle stopped at the same point, then tipped over backwards.
Cook, who was with Cornwell when the accident happened, said, “The trail he got hurt on is a red trail, and it was very well marked … You got to know where your limit is. If you get hurt from going up one of the red trails, that is your fault because you are the one who decided you could go up it. That is an individual’s choice.”
Cox said while he knows that in an ATV park accidents are going to happen, “we try to operate as safely as possible … I don’t like to see anybody get hurt, I like to see people have fun … we have people patrolling, on the weekends, making sure everyone is having a good time and checking to see if anyone needs help.”
Mule Ridge expects riders to follow a set of strict rules, including wearing helmets. No alcohol is allowed on the property and there is no riding double allowed on ATVs in the park. More guidelines can be found at the property’s Web site online at www.muleridge.com/rules.htm.
Cox said he met with the ATV Safety Institute about three weeks ago to discuss offering safety training programs at the facility. Schedules for those courses will be posted soon, Cox said.
“We offer as safe as possible a place for people to come and ride their four-wheelers in a family atmosphere,” Cox said. “It’s a way to have a good time legally.”
Cox added that several parents have expressed appreciation in having a place designated for their children to ride ATVs because it is illegal in some counties for ATVs to be operated on county roads. Mule Ridge has no age restrictions, as long as children under 18 are accompanied by a parent.
Cook said he loves the Mule Ridge facility and plans to go back. On Tuesday, after visiting Cornwell in the hospital, Cook said he stopped at Mule Ridge to buy his friend a hat that says “Mule Ridge.”
“It could very possibly have been a fatal accident,” Cook said. “If he didn’t have a helmet, the way this 500 pound, four-wheeler came down and caught him between the eyes … it’s a wonder it didn’t take the top of his head off.
“It was just a freak accident.”
Deb McKee can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.mckee@tribstar.com.
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