CAMBY, Ind. -- After two fatal ATV crashes in the past week, state officials are sending a strong warning about the dangers of ATVs.
In Camby, 44-year-old Paula Boyden died last weekend in an ATV crash just down the street from her home. The crash occurred on her birthday. The Department of Natural Resources believes speed and alcohol contributed to the crash.
On Thursday, Connersville Police Officer Jeffrey Councellor died in an ATV crash in Fayette County. His death came during ATV Safety Week.
"There certainly may be a misconception out there that these are safe, and they are fun, that is for sure, but they're meant to be driven slowly, and all-terrains are not meant to be drive 40-miles-per-hour down the middle of the road, which is where we see some of these accidents," said Conservation Officer Angela Goldman.
Numbers from the DNR show a consistent and disturbing pattern for ATV crashes each year. Statewide, there were 14 in both 2014 and 2015. So far this year, there have been seven.
The number of annual injuries reaches into the hundreds.
