Liberal, KS (May 30, 2024) – A passenger was hurt after an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in the Liberal area on Wednesday, May 29. The accident was reported at the 1800 block of Frontage Road north of the cosmetology building early that morning around 10:36 a.m. Local reports revealed that three people were riding an ATV headed north on Campus Road when the operator turned a corner to travel east.
The operator, 26-year-old Tucker J. Smith of Kismet, accelerated while making the turn, and a passenger in the rear bed fell out. Emergency responders were rushed to the scene to provide aid to the involved parties. The passenger that fell off the vehicle, 29-year-old Jacob G. Still of Tyrone, OK, was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita in critical condition. Still was later pronounced dead. No one else involved in the incident was hurt. No further information on the deadly accident is currently available. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident is being managed by local law enforcement officials.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim at this time.
Fatal ATV Accidents in Kansas
Riding an ATV or UTV is a great pastime. However, these vehicles are far from safe, and many people are hurt in killed in related crashes each year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that 112,300 OHV-related injuries were attended to in American hospital emergency rooms in 2020. ATVs were involved in 96 percent of these OHV injuries over five years. During three years, ATVs were accountable for 1,566 deadly accidents, while ROVs and UTVs each caused 478 and 464 fatal crashes, respectively. The CPSPC reported 2,178 OHV-related deaths in the United States as of September 2022. Out of these, 1,513 were linked to ATVs, 537 to ROVs, and 49 to UTVs. If someone close to you is killed in a crash, you should consult with a Liberal wrongful death lawyer at Bretz Injury Law. Contact our offices today at 620-524-0080 to get started on your case.
