Post by Master Yoda on Mar 14, 2006 14:22:09 GMT -5
March 13, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWBERRY, Fla. - A 16-year-old Georgia boy died in a crash during an all-terrain vehicle race at a motocross event, authorities said.
Zachary Griffin, of Palmetto, Ga., was killed Saturday when he missed a jump, fell off his ATV and had another ATV land on top of him, according to his mother. He was competing in the ATVA/ITP/Moose Racing National Motocross Championship at Gatorback Cycle Park near Gainesville.
The boy likely died from traumatic chest injuries, but an autopsy was pending, Alachua County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Keith Faulk said.
Patricia Griffin said her son was wearing the required helmet and protective gear, which were all intact after the accident.
"He died doing what he loved the most," she said from the family's home outside Atlanta.
An ATV Motocross Web site said the event was the third round of the series.
A racer was airlifted from the track Sunday to the trauma center at Shands at the University of Florida with a possible broken back, authorities said. An 18-year-old racer suffered a concussion Saturday when his ATV flipped three times, and the acting Waldo Fire and Rescue fire chief died two weeks ago in an ATV crash following an event at the park, authorities said.
