FOLEY, Ala. — Four juveniles were injured Tuesday evening when the all-terrain vehicle they were riding rolled over on Dale Lane near Sunset Circle in Foley. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
One of the young riders suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola for treatment. The other three juveniles were transported to area hospitals by ambulance. Their current conditions have not been released.
A Chaotic Scene
Foley Fire Chief Joseph Darby said first responders arrived to find the crash site scattered and tense, with neighbors already working to help the injured children before emergency crews reached them.
“All four had various injuries, a couple were more significant than others,” Darby said. “When we got there, the children were in a couple of different places. Nearby neighbors were trying to assist them, so it was a bit of a chaotic scene.”
Darby said none of the four juveniles were wearing helmets or other protective gear at the time of the crash, a detail he said is common in ATV accidents involving young riders who push the vehicles beyond safe limits.
Fire Chief Urges Caution
Darby said incidents like Tuesday’s crash are not unusual in the Foley area and used the crash as an opportunity to remind families that off-road vehicles, while popular with children and teenagers, are powerful machines that require caution and proper safety equipment.
“Ride those where they’re meant to be ridden,” Darby said. “We encourage kids to go outside and have a great time, but obviously they need to follow safety standards to hopefully prevent what happened.”
Foley Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. Authorities have not released the ages or names of the juveniles involved, and no additional details on their conditions have been made public.
South Alabama News will update this story as more information becomes available.