Family Warns Of ATV Dangers

Written by LEX Channel 18

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A 9-year-old Morgan County boy was killed Sunday while riding his ATV, and now his family wants to remind others about the dangers of ATVs.

Austin Coffee's family says he loved the outdoors, and especially riding his ATV. But his favorite activity cut his life short, and family members are trying to come to terms with his death.

"I know he was hurt bad but I didn't think he was gone," said Clifton Coffee, Austin's father.

Austin was just two weeks away from his tenth birthday when he died Sunday after the ATV he was riding flipped and landed on his chest.

"Accidents happen and you never think it would be your little boy," said Clifton.

The family says Austin wasn't wearing a helmet, but that would not have saved him. His family believes parents need to be there watching their children when they are riding ATVs.

Austin's classmates met with counselors yesterday. They also made cards and told stories about their favorite memories of him.

His funeral is Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Herald and Stewart and Halsley Funeral Home in West Liberty.

Source: http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=8982570

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Community Voices

“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them."

- Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers