Young Child Critically Injured During ATV Accident in Pasco County

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on August 22, 2023

A nine-year-old child from Texas is continuing his road to recovery this week after he sustained severe injuries during an ATV accident last Friday evening on State Road 52 in Pasco County, Florida.

According to incident reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, it was during the late-night hours of August 18, 2023, when a nine-year-old boy from San Antonio was driving a 2016 Polaris Ranger side-by-side ATV in the eastbound direction of State Road 52 along the grassy shoulder of the roadway with his 34-year-old father riding as his passenger. As the pair approached the vicinity of Palm Street, the young driver tried to cross S.R. 52 but instead crashed into the back of a 2018 Toyota Camry being driven by a 54-year-old man from Dade City who was also travelling in the eastern direction of the highway.

The forceful impact from the collision caused the all-terrain vehicle to spin out of control before it rolled over and came to a complete stop in the westbound lanes. The Toyota Camry was propelled into northbound traffic and finally ended up in a ditch along the side of State Road 52.

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol and emergency response teams in Pasco County were immediately sent to the scene of the two-vehicle accident and transported the nine-year-old child to the closest trauma center with critical injuries. His 34-year-old father suffered minor injuries during the collision. Neither individual was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.

The 54-year-old driver of the Toyota Camry and his 52-year-old female passenger were unharmed.

This case is currently under investigation by officials in Pasco County. No formal charges have been filed.

When used properly, all-terrain vehicles can be a great source of fun, excitement, and entertainment. However, if the driver of an ATV is underage, under the influence, or otherwise inexperienced with controlling such a small, yet dynamic mode of transportation, the consequences can be quite severe, if not deadly. In fact, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed new legislation earlier this year that will go into effect on October 1, 2023, which will require all drivers to be 18 when operating a golf cart – a close relative to the ATV.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.