Forensic Engineering Investigation Of An Atv Crash Involving Two Riders On A One-Rider ATV

Abstract

An Adult Woman Enticed A Young Girl To Take A Ride With Her On Her Atv. During The Ride, The Operator Lost Control Of The Machine And It Became Airborne. Both The Driver And Passenger Were Ejected From The Atv, And The Young Girl Suffered A Broken Jaw And Neck, Becoming A Permanent Quadriplegic. The Adult Woman Was Criminally Charged With Contributing To The Delinquency Of A Minor. The Author Was Retained By Counsel To Inspect A Drainage Canal Shelf Where The Crash Took Place To Determine If It Was Reasonably Safe For The Operation Of All-Terrain Vehicles (Atvs). The Author Was Also Asked To Review The Conduct Of The Adult Woman Atv Operator And Provide Opinions Regarding Atv Operation And Safety. The Author Determined That The Canal Shelf Was Reasonably Safe For Atv Operation And That The Adult Woman Atv Operator Did Not Operate Her Atv In A Reasonably Safe And Prudent Manner Which Caused The Crash.