Manitoba RCMP is urging people to be safe when driving an ATV and other off-roading vehicles after two separate incidents last week. The first incident happened Aug. 19 around 5:15 p.m. when RCMP received reports that someone was injured while riding an ATV in Little Saskatchewan First Nation. Investigators learned a 25-year-old woman was the passenger on an ATV being driven by a 31-year-old man. RCMP said she wasn’t wearing a helmet. While riding, RCMP said she fell off and hit a gravel road. She died at the scene. RCMP arrested the 31-year-old driver. He was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and impaired driving causing death. The second incident happened in Brochet just after 10 p.m. RCMP said there were reports of two kids involved in an ATV crash. Officers learned a 13-year-old boy was driving an ATV without headlights when he hit a 14-year-old boy. The 14-year-old was eventually transported to a Winnipeg hospital for treatment and has since been released. RCMP said so far this year there have been six deaths that involved off-road vehicles. People are being reminded to wear a helmet while on one, never operate one if you have consumed alcohol or drugs, and wear a seatbelt if it is equipped with one. It’s also important to remember to ride in groups when possible and always have a cellphone with you, don’t carry passengers if the vehicle isn’t designed for it, don’t drive off-road vehicles on a roadway, and people under the age of 14 are not allowed to operate off-road vehicles unless they are supervised or accompanied by an adult.
