9-year-old girl in stable, guarded condition after ATV accident

Monday, January 28, 2008 5:50 PM CST

SALEM - A 9-year-old girl was seriously injured Sunday afternoon in an all terrain vehicle (ATV) accident.

According to reports from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, the girl suffered a head injury. She was taken to St. Catherine’s Hospital by rescue and later flown by Flight For Life to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa. On Monday, the girl, whose name was not released, was listed in stable, but guarded condition.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the ATV crash in the 11100 block of 270th Ave. at 3:11 p.m.

Initial reports said the 9-year-old and a 10-year-old friend were riding their ATVs illegally on the roadway when the younger child lost control of her vehicle. Deputies said she veered into the ditch, rolling the ATV. The girl was thrown from the vehicle and struck a tree stump.

Deputies said the girl was not wearing a helmet at the time. Neither child possessed an ATV safety certificate, and were not under adult supervision at the time of the accident.

The crash remains under investigation. Citations for permitting an unauthorized person to operate an ATV are pending for the owners of the vehicles.

Special Offer: Get 5 Weeks of the Journal Times for $7!