Passenger dies in ATV crash in NE Marion County

[File photo by Bruce Ackerman]

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crash in northeast Marion County on March 16 claimed the life of the passenger and left the driver critically injured, the Florida Highway Patrol has reported.

The single vehicle crash occurred around 6:20 p.m.  on a “dirt all-terrain vehicle path” located west of Northeast 171st Avenue Road. The crash occurred after the left handlebar of the ATV struck a tree while traveling east on the path, the press release indicated.  

This caused the ATV to lose control and travel off the dirt path to the right into a wooded area. The ATV overturned and collided with another tree,” the release stated. 

The 18-year-old female passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 18-year-old male driver was critically injured and was transported on trauma alert to HCA Florida Hospital Ocala, the press release stated.

According to the press release, seat belt use is not applicable and neither the driver or passenger wore a helmet. 

The FHP Crash Dashboard at flhsmv.gov states that from Jan. 1 to March 4, 11 people have died in Marion County traffic crashes, according to preliminary data. There were 84 fatalities in the county last year.