ATVs have been running wildly and illegally on streets and vacant lots throughout LaBelle and Port LaBelle this weekend, as residents and visitors celebrate Hendry County's largest festival, the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival.
This afternoon, witnesses say a large ATV, driven by a 15 year old female from LaBelle, with a 14 year old female passenger from LaBelle and a 16 year old male passenger from Clewiston, collided with a motorcycle (motor scooter).
Sheriff's deputies said they had witnesses they were interviewing, but declined to speak to another witness sitting on a table a the store.
One person, wearing a helmet on the large motor scooter sustained broken legs. The other, wearing no helmet was killed. The FHP is investigating who was the driver.
A relative was on scene obviously distraught.
While illegal for ATVs to drive on streets and private property without permission, the Sheriff's department can't keep up with this activity and usually declines to enforce the laws unless a complaint is made.
The Sheriff's office in the past, published this warning: “People who own these vehicles are most times safety conscious, but sometimes…they forget and mix these vehicles with alcohol or drugs. Other times, they allow younger children to ride them. It’s all about the fun, until they hit a hole in the ground, a ditch they didn’t see or unleveled ground…drive out in front of a car, or truck, or worse yet…crash.”
An employee of the market said youths are constantly speeding up and down the street in front of the market. A half dozen ATVs were seen driving in the immediate area, on the private greenbelt and streets while reporting this incident. Presumably, underage ATV drivers are given permission by parents to be driving illegally around the county.
The FHP is investigating while Eucalyptus Blvd. is blocked at the mini mart location.
(Editor's note: The FHP officially calls the two-wheeled vehicle a "moped" but most call this vehicle a motor scooter, as mopeds can be either pedaled or motor driven, but the vehicle observed in this fatal crash was a large engine scooter capable of highway speeds and can carry a passenger.)
UPDATE: The fatal crash remains under investigation to determine which Vehicle 2 (moped) occupant (Male 32-year-old out of Miami-critically injured or the male 30-year-old out of Lakeland- deceased) was driving at the time of the crash.
From the FHP report:
Vehicle 1 (side by side - off highway vehicle), was traveling on the north shoulder of Eucalyptus Boulevard, west of Rainbow Circle.Vehicle 2 (moped), was traveling west on Eucalyptus Boulevard, west of Rainbow Circle.
Vehicle 1 (ATV) attempted to cross Eucalyptus Boulevard from the north shoulder, and entered the direct path of Vehicle 2.
The front portion of Vehicle 2 collided with the front left tire of Vehicle 1.
Driver 2 was pronounced deceased on scene. Vehicle 2 / Passenger was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries.
If you have any information, please comment below or send email to donbrowne@gmail.com and contact the FHP
Photo credit: Don Browne
This goes on all the time and the police know it and refuse to do anything 😒
ReplyDeleteReread the post. And it is also still being investigated
DeleteYou forgot about the guy that broke both his legs
ReplyDeleteAnd the girls were around the ages 12-13
ReplyDeleteThe girl driving the side by side was 15 I know them
DeleteWhat were the girls names?
DeleteHow about praying for victims.
DeleteAny updates ???
ReplyDeleteOur porch faces Eucalyptus and we see this activity going on. It's not just special occasions, this activity goes on daily. It nothing to see adults with babies riding through the swales
ReplyDeleteComplaints have been made to the sheriff's department. The dispatcher was informed it is a daily activity.
The "green belts" look like motocross tracks. The dust covers everything on our porch.
It's a shame there has to be a death to get anyone to take action.
Has the home owner's association done anything to deter this activity or are they too busy writing code violations for illegal parking?
ReplyDeleteThe girl wasn’t driving it was the boy .
ReplyDeleteand they didn’t add the fact that all three fled the scene to begin with
ReplyDelete