SULLIVAN COUNTY —
State conservation officers have released the identity of a 17-year old male who died earlier this week as a result of injuries he sustained in a crash involving his all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
John R. Chesterfield of Lewis was pronounced dead after being transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
The crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on County Road 1200 North in Sullivan County, about 2.5 miles west of Lewis.
An autopsy was performed Wednesday in Marion County. The preliminary cause of death was reported as blunt force trauma to the head, pending final toxicology results.
Chesterfield was the only reported injury in the incident, and drugs/alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the crash.
At about 4:35 p.m. Sunday, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a motorist, who reported the unoccupied ATV and an unresponsive person in the roadway.
No other vehicles were reported to have been involved. Emergency services personnel from the Sullivan Fire Department, Thunderbird Fire Department, and Hymera Fire Department responded to the call.
Chesterfield was airlifted to Methodist Hospital and treated for severe head trauma. He later died from those injuries sustained in the incident.
Indiana Conservation Officers have determined that Chesterfield fell off or was thrown from the 2004 Polaris 500 Sportsman 4-wheeled ATV that he was operating, while driving west on County Rd. 1200 North.
State conservation officers, who are responsible for investigating injuries and deaths resulting from ATV incidents, believe that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
They remind ATV owners and operators that ATVs require special training and attention.
“The growing number of ATV-related accidents and incidents can be attributed to a number of different factors,” says Master conservation officer Thomas Lahay. “Most of these machines are cheaper and more fuel efficient than other motor vehicles. In addition, many counties are now allowing ATVs to be driven on the county roadways. More ATVs on the roadways mean more ATV accidents and injuries.”
A total of 220 ATV accidents were reported to conservation officers in 2011, an increase of nearly 10 percent from those reported in 2010.
Indiana conservation officers remind ATV owners that ATVs are designed and manufactured for off-road use and have different operating characteristics than other motor vehicles when operated on the roadway.
Indiana law requires an operator’s license to drive an ATV on public property (including roads). Safety equipment such as helmets, boots, and gloves, although not required by law on ATVs, are always a good thing to wear while riding.
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