A man from Butler County was killed by a commercial tractor trailer on Tuesday afternoon as he was riding as a passenger on the back of an all-terrain vehicle. Police say the accident happened when the 14-year-old driver of the ATV lost control and smashed into the truck.

The victim, a twenty-year-old from Eau Claire, Butler County, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which happened shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The accident happened about mile south of the Eau Claire Borough Office at the intersection of South Washington Street / State Route 38 and Garner Street, between East Park Avenue and Cemetery Road, according to state police. 

There is no word yet on whether or not the boy driving the ATV was injured or if he required medical treatment; however, witnesses say that they did see him thrown off the vehicle along with the victim.

According to collaborative reports, the boy was said to be navigating the ATV west from Marie Avenue along Garner Road when he lost control and headed directly into the oncoming tractor trailer that was travelling northbound on South Washington Road. The driver of the truck, whose age was not available, is reportedly a resident of New Bethlehem in Clarion County.

The police are continuing to investigate and there is no word yet on whether any of the parties involved were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The driver of the tractor trailer will undergo an evaluation and subsequent drug test and police will wait for the results of those tests, as well as a toxicology report from the victim and the driver of the ATV before making any official statements.

Source: TribLive, "ATV passenger killed in Butler County crash" 29 April 2014