In northeastern Ontario, a 34-year-old Greater Sudbury man becomes the sixth casualty of a tragic ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) accident in a span of less than two months.
The man, remaining anonymous at the behest of his family, was part of a group that went trail riding north of Cote Boulevard in the Hanmer area of Sudbury on Saturday evening. He was reportedly missing from the group for a period, having tragically succumbed to a fatal mishap on the trail.
As disclosed by the Greater Sudbury Police Service, preliminary investigations suggest that the lone rider failed to maneuver correctly through a turn, sending him toppling over a steep bank. His lifeless body was discovered approximately three hours later by his fellow ATV riders.
The somber news of his death comes on the heels of an already alarming series of deadly ATV crashes that have plagued the northeastern region since July 23. The death toll sits at six, including three innocent children.
The initial accident occurred east of Parry Sound, claiming the lives of a mother and her five-year-old daughter, while her nine-year-old son miraculously survived. The victims, identified as Michelle and Heidi Bader-Shaw, aged 42 and 5 respectively, were killed in their tragic mishap in July.
A second fatal crash transpired within a fortnight west of Timmins. A father and his 12-year-old son met their untimely end in a head-on collision with a pickup truck on their way home from a fishing trip. The unfortunate victims, Alain and Ryder Dion, paid a hefty price for their day out, perishing in northern Ontario.
The third devastating accident took place east of Sault Ste. Marie, involving an ATV rollover that claimed the life of a 10-year-old Barrie girl.
Current investigations into these accidents continue, as the region has been rattled by the summer’s spree of heartrending ATV accidents.