Well guys I flipped the machine Mon. night with my 5 yr. old son with me and got pinned under it....My left hand was pinned under the handlebar and I couldn't move....I wasn't going crazy fast but was on a side hill and over it went.....It got pinned against 2 trees and I couldn't move it an inch...I managed to get him clear with my right arm...Really scary night....Had to call my neighbor on the cell to come get me.....Had gas and oil leaking on me......Thank god it didn't light up...
I just wanted to write this story for you guys to remember to be safe out there....Bad things happen really quick......

John

quote:

JCDEYO25

WOW glad that you are ok and the boy also. Just goes to show how fast and easy it happens, many times speed has nothing to do with it. Don't know why I ask or if it matters really, was Boy on behind or in front of you? How is he handling it? Hope don't scare him so bad he wont ride again.

Since you didn't mention how about helmets for the two of you?

Glad you're both OK, sounds like those trees may have kept it from being worse that it was.

Cob...
My son was right in front of me and for a second was getting crushed between me and the quad.....I did me best to get him clear as fast as I could....He has a small bruise on his chest but he's a trooper.....He's not afaraid to get back on it either......I guess I just gotta be extra careful when he's with me...Thanks for your concern..

CO Dave.....
Actually I think if those trees weren't there I wouldn't have gotten pinned....Maybe it would have rolled off of me......Thanks for your concern too.

John

Sorry for the accident and glad nobody got hurt any worse than what happened......

Glad your boy is OK!!!!

JC, glad all are ok.
Cob, very true speed is not always the factor. A friend was rideing in back yard slowly 5-8 mph, caught a guywire to a utility pole, rode up and flipped over due to the cable slope, broke his arm in 2 places!! bob...........

It's the what if's that tear you apart. It happened the way it did and you and he were lucky and all right, that is what counts. I think had I been in your position as young as he is, I would of had him in front also, don't know as there is a right or wrong way. I know right way is not ride double at all on a one up machine. But hey my GRANDKIDS want to ride they will be there with me right ot wrong. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS the ATV GODS were riding with you on that one.

You just try to be as careful as you can, but that is why they are called accidents they sneak up on you when you least expect it. It may save you from something worse down the road as you will be more observant now. I'll bet that you have made an impression on someone that is reading this also.

Thanks for shareing the story.

It can be real scarry and things happen when you least expect them. My son flipped his over the front end three weeks ago Monday in a ravine about 20 feet deep and 35 feet across. We have traversed it an all directions and ways, but he went down where a coyote had dug a den and it was straight down. I think he panicked and hit the brakes when the front end dropped and it was over. Luckily it is full of cattails and that softened the landing and he only got bruised up. Nonetheless, it was scarry and I understand how you feel.

The most important thing is that you and your son are okay, but never lose that feeling of how you would feel if your son had suffered permanent injuries due to misjudgement on your part.

Take good care of your loved ones and God Bless!

Hey thank you guys for all your comments.... All I wanted to accomplish with this thread was to make you guys aware of these machines we ride and how things can go wrong so quick.....So for everyone out there just be careful out there.I've counted my blessings on this one..

John

I really hope both of you were wearing helmets...

Guess I'm just an ol meanie who doesn't want anyone to have any fun, but . . .

While no one can know the total circumstances of the accident reported, I question the practice of riding a 5-year-old double on a quad. Even with helmet, boots, and/or other protective clothing (no mention of any protective gear in the account).

Parents choose more or less whether their children will be exposed to risks like riding double on an ATV, whether legal or not (such practice is illegal in VA). A child is not of the age of consent to make responsible decisions in this area, parents are responsible.

Deaths and injuries of children remain the "poster children" for the "environmental" groups who want to ban ATVing for folks of ANY age. (By the way, these "activists," and their attorneys, read these websites.)

For the sake of the health and safety of the children, and for the image of ATVing, I'd suggest--weigh the "risk to gain" ratio, before riding infants double on ATVs.

None of my business? Maybe not. Similarly, a parent can allow, or not allow, his infant children to ride in an automobile without seat belts or other restraints. Kids without restratints can be justified by driving "extra careful."

So, "wet blanket," "stick-in-the-mud," "self-righteous goody two-shoes," whatever--I question the wisdom and responsibility of riding infants double on ATVs, exposing the children to life-threatening risks.

Yeah, yeah, yeah; look at bicycles, skateboards, etc. I'd say, other risk exposures don't justify an additional one.

Think for brief moment of your reaction to the account on this thread, if its title were "5-year-old Killed In ATV Rollover." Would you then wonder if the child would be alive, had he not been taken on the ATV ride?

Is the gain of riding kids double worth the risk? "Yeah, 'cause you see, I'm CAREFUL!"

'Nuff said. My opinion only, I respect those of others.

Yes we were wearing helmets.........

I'm glad to hear everyone is okay. Makes one think about riding alone.

TF, that fine to mention your side of this, I agree, and while one cannot dictate what others do, it just doesn't hurt to mix in other concerns. My grandsons parents at a early age introduced them to motorcycles, I mean at four years of age, outfitted them in all the protective gear they could muster, helped them get going, and got out of the way. Granddaughters also. Now, eventhough stuff might happen, it sorta neat to see the whole gaggle of them going on rides, a mix of single tracks and quads, all with their helmets and gloves etc.

Certainly happy this particular crash turned out with no injuries, but PLEASE!!

Also--the local paper reports of one death and one critical injury in this area from HORSES! just goes to show, you never can tell!

Hey all,

have a story to share as well... friends of mine have two boys 9 and 14... been wheelin for most of their lives... anyway, the older boy took off early(alone) for a family ride one evening in august... driving in tall grass, he caught the edge of a ditch and rolled into it... machine landed on top of him, broke his neck and killed him... he was wearing his helmet... was terrible accident and our riding group is crushed... the funeral was very hard and emotional... parents shouldnt have to bury their 14 yr. old kids...

yes, accidents do happen so everyone be careful...

stev

TFarmer, I ride a 1 year old granddaughter around the yard, and yes have thought about what you say. I will continue to ride her and the 3 year grandson and 3 month twins as they get old enough. I appreciate your view, but I am carefull and reponsible, probabley more so than those who ride kids on horses. Horses have their own thought pattern of independance that a motorized vehicle does not. I have problems with those who try to legislate "safety" for all the rest of us. I have trouble with those who believe all problems or mistakes or accidents are because of someone else or something else, people must take responsibility for their own actions and consequences. I am probably not saying any thing most of us do not already believe. Our sport takes a certain self responsibility or no one would ride. The grandkids parents have already bought electric vehilces for the kids and the 3 year old has a 50cc w/remote kill, he rides good. Sorry to ramble a little TFarmer, there is a narrow line in a lot of life that we sometimes tread. I'm sure you know this and are only pointing out our industry has to be vigilant in our actions and with our legislators. Thanks... bob...........

I like the comparison to the horse as that was the reason I quit riding them. He had his mind made up where he wanted to go and couldn't care less about having someone on his back. The clothes line made sure I got off promptly!

I was riding with a nurse yesterday and she was telling us about one of the ER doctors sons that had crashed his quad, broke his spine and is now paralyzed from the neck down. 20 year old kid that was in Med school....life is ruined. I rode a lot slower the rest of the day. I hate hearing those stories, and I cringe when I see parents riding with their kids on the quad with them, I have seen people that do this that don't come out as lucky as you did....but, I really am truly glad everyone is OK. Please rethink this riding style. Buy him a 90!

quote:

Originally posted by XS:
My grandsons parents at a early age introduced them to motorcycles, I mean at four years of age, outfitted them in all the protective gear they could muster, helped them get going, and got out of the way. Granddaughters also. Now, eventhough stuff might happen, it sorta neat to see the whole gaggle of them going on rides, a mix of single tracks and quads, all with their helmets and gloves etc.

Some good points made on this thread.

XS, I'd distinguish between devloping young riders on appropriately-sized motorcycles (or mini-ATVs), and carrying a child as a passenger on an ATV made for one adult-sized rider.

In the case of the mini-bikes (or mini-ATVs), the small riders have ergonomically-correct footpegs, seats, and controls; an infant perched upon a full-size ATV has none of these; maybe not even a decent hand-hold.

Again, parents decide the level of their childrens' risk exposure.

Finally, I'm thankful no serious injuries resulted from the accident described, along with everyone else.

As for riding safely; I never PLANNED any of the ATV rollovers I have experienced; rollovers I at least experienced alone . . .

hope you are healing up well John, and thank god the youngin didn't get hurt...those off camber rides are tough

Tree Farmer...
I've waited a while to make this comment because I'm not here to cause controversy......I didn't writed this thread to be raked over the coals by you........Secondly my son isn't an "infant" like you say.....I take total responsibility for the accident but my intent for this thread was just a wake up for all of us to just be extra careful when riding even if we're just riding single on the quad.....You make it sound like I'm an irresponsible parent and I don't appreciate it.......I don't know if you have any children or not but just taking them for a ride to the store to get milk isn't the safest thing either......I like all the guys on this site and hope this doesn't cause any controversy but maybe you misintrepreted my intent......

John

Thanks Dave....The hand is healing well and the boy is doing great....Got the quad all ripped apart trying to start the rebuild on it.....

John

quote:

stev

For me the benefits that I got from hooking the grandkids on ATV's far out weighed the bad points. They knew that if grades weren't good and they weren't up to par at home they would go no where. It was a leverage that I felt over ruled all other risk. To ride with a grand kid I have a complete over haul of style, I don't take chances that I normaly would I rarely would go over 10 miles an hour.

My GRANDSON that lived here in COLORADO with his mother. Rode a 425 MAGNUM from the time he was 9 yrs ol;d. It was his quad Gramps had control but other wise in his mind it was his. I held the cards if he didn't perform he didn't ride. He always wore a helmet and yet today as he is older he rides he covers up. Yes as was stated above not always a cure for injury, but sure cuts down on the ODDS conciderable.

Funny that we are having this conversation and today we came up on a MOM and her I'll bet less than 5 yr old. They both had helmets he was tucked in back of her in one of them I think KOLPIN seats. Was as snug as a bug in a rug, I have mixed emotions about kids rideing but then again they can be doing far worse things. I felt that by giving them some thing that they liked as much as I and knowing that doing some else could end it all. that they would make the right choice.

quote:

JCDEYO25

You were posting as I was typing so I at first missed what you had said. For me I was glad you shared the story, today you wre talked about and not one person blamed you or felt that you had done bad. It was just unfortunate that it happened, but we all are counting our blessings that it did turn out good.

Posting this and shareing what must have been a scarey time for you, has to have had a positive impact on someone. I hope that they will step up and share their thoughts.

Thanks Cob.....Once again I'n not trying to cause any trouble here....You guys are great......Thanks for everything.

John