By Bryant Thigpen
Riverbend News
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is investigating an accident involving two UTV’s which resulted in the death of a five-year-old child, from McAlpin.
According to an FHP report, on Sunday, Nov. 1, at approximately 5:45 p.m., a Polaris Ranger UTV, which was driven by a 41-year-old-male from O’Brien, was traveling west on 180th Street, towing another UTV due to engine malfunctions. While the second UTV was in tow, a five-year-old passenger fell out of the passenger seat and struck the pavement.
The child was transported to Lake City Medical Center in critical condition and was later pronounced deceased. The driver and passenger of the UTV, a 12-year-old female of O’Brien, were not injured during the incident. The driver of the UTV-in-tow, a 34-year-old male from McAlpin, and his passenger, a two-year-old male of McAlpin, also escaped with no injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.