The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. Because the rider has little or no protection, resulting injuries are often serious and sometimes include death. This is even more likely if the rider is not wearing a helmet which is not required in the state of Pennsylvania.

A 7-year-old Pennsylvania boy died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident this past weekend. The boy, who was from Vestal, along with his brother were staying at a Meshoppen Township campground located south of Binghamton. They were chaperoned by two other residents of Vestal, both adults.

The accident reportedly occurred at the campground when the boy, a Cub Scout preparing to enter the second grade, took the electric motorcycle belonging to one of the adults he was with, without anyone’s knowledge. Just prior to the crash, the motorcycle was being charged and the boy had reportedly been informed that he was not to ride it.

Though there were no witnesses to the accident, based on the scene it appears that the boy left the road and entered the woods, crossing a trail before he went over a high bank and hit a tree. He then fell roughly 30 feet, coming to rest near Meshoppen Creek. He was discovered at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Witnesses did report seeing the boy riding the motorcycle down a road earlier in the day. They told Meshoppen Police Chief John Krieg that they saw him tip the motorcycle over to its side as a car drew near. He did not appear to be injured at that point.

He was transported to Tyler Memorial Hospital where he died as a result of massive neck and head trauma. It is unclear whether he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Source

The Scranton Times Tribune: “7-year-old from Vestal, N.Y., dies in Wyoming County motorcycle crash,” Robert L. Baker, Aug. 16, 2011