Contributed by Debra McGhan
Rounding a sharp corner on Fairview Loop Road in Wasilla, I watched in horror as a 4-wheeler shot across the road and got t-boned by a full-sized pickup truck. I slammed on my brakes and jumped out to try and provide aid.
The victims were two young girls about 12-years-old. One of the girls ran around in a circle screaming while the other girl lay motionless on the roadway. The driver of the pickup raced to check on the unconscious girl saying over and over, “I didn’t see them, I can’t believe it, I just didn’t see them until I hit them.”
I understood completely. The girls had come shooting out from the bushes just as the truck rounded the corner and slammed into them. He had no warning. No time to stop.
A woman from a nearby home rushed out and said she’d heard the crash and had called 911. With only basic first aid training, I didn’t know what to do beyond call 911 and try to comfort the injured while we waited impatiently for help to arrive.
The driver from the truck was checking the vitals of the unconscious girl while I tried to calm the other girl. I asked her name but and all she would say is, “My Dad’s going to kill me. I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to do.”
Blood dripped from a gash on her arm but she brushed me aside when I tried to check the injury. She seemed more concerned about how her parents were going to react to this crash. I couldn’t help wondering why her parents let her drive this machine without adult supervision.
Scenes like this play out far too often in the Mat-Su Valley and communities across Alaska. While it’s fun and good times when things go right. It’s a living nightmare when it all goes wrong. These girls were dressed in shorts and t-shirts but at least they were wearing helmets. I could only hope those helmets saved their lives.
Alaska Safe Riders Director Mike Buck, teaches riders of all-purpose vehicles the importance of wearing proper safety gear, how to be properly prepared, safe riding techniques, and about local laws and rules that apply to operating all-purpose vehicles. Following the curriculum from the ATV Safety Institute, students get the opportunity to practice riding in a supervised, safe environment.
“Our mission is to share our experiences to keep the trails safe for everyone,” said Buck. “Alaska has the sad distinction of being number one in the nation for ATV fatalities. But It’s something we know can be changed. It’s just going to take all of us working together to make that happen.”
Buck and his team will be out teaching ATV safety classes around the state during the month of June. These are hands-on rider training sessions from the national ATV Institute. You can take the online portion of the course anytime at AlaskaSafeRiders.org. You will need your certificate from this course to participate in the riding portion and earn your full certification. Spaces are limited so take the online class and watch the website for classes to be added soon. Classes will also be offered through the Mat-Su summer school program for kids 12 and up as well.
I had the good fortune of taking this riding class last spring during an instructor training program. Although I have been riding ATV’s for many years, I learned so many new things and walked away feeling far more confidant and in control. I only wish that all parents took the time to make sure their kids were well trained before letting them out to ride on their own. Like the girls I had the misfortune of meeting on Fairview Loop Road.
After the paramedics arrived and took control of the crash scene, I was free to go. I never did learn the extent of the girl’s injuries, or even in they both survived. But I have never forgotten that day.
Every time I see someone ripping down the sides of the road, dust billowing in the air around them, often with no helmet or skin protection, I can’t help but cringe. I know that disaster could be just one bump away.
Don’t just hand your kids the keys to an ATV, get them trained so they will know how to avoid injury, or worse, lose their lives. Learn more at https://AlaskaSafeRiders.org