FORT THOMAS — A juvenile was killed when a Ranger ATV rolled in the area of Black Rock and Hinton roads.
The accident occurred around 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27. One of the passengers in the ATV told Graham County Sheriff’s deputies the ATV was traveling southbound on Black Rock Road when an oncoming vehicle traveling northbound crossed into the southbound lane.
The ATV’s driver attempted to move out of the way of the oncoming vehicle, leading to the ATV flipping. The driver gave a similar statement to deputies; however the driver was having trouble breathing and the interview was cut short. The driver was eventually transferred from Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to Banner UMC Trauma Center in Tucson with undisclosed injuries.
Neither the driver nor passenger could identify the oncoming vehicle; however, a property owner in the area said a man came to his house to advise them of the accident and then left. The property owner’s son gave the deputy a possible name for the man.
A second passenger in the ATV was declared dead at the scene. An autopsy has been ordered with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Identities to all three victims were not disclosed due to all being juveniles.
Deputies spoke with the owner of the ATV, who said he was hosting an eighth-grade graduation party and reportedly admitted to allowing one of the juveniles to drive the vehicle, despite the juvenile being too young to have a driver’s license. The owner said he did not know the other two juveniles went along for the ride.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
