Imperial Valley Press Online - Local News - Boy dies in collision with sand rail

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Boy dies in collision with sand rail
By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer

Saturday, December 29, 2007 9:27 PM PST

IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA — A 13-year-old boy from San Diego was killed when the quad he was riding collided with a sand rail, Bureau of Land Management Chief Ranger Michael Boxx said Saturday.

The boy was riding across an unauthorized drag strip known as the “South Dunes Sand Drags,” when he was “run over,” Boxx said.

The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

It is unknown if the incident was connected to a call the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office responded to about 6 p.m. The county coroner responded to a call of a 9-year-old deceased person in the Dune Buggy Flats area, according the Imperial County Sheriff’s log.

BLM officials did not have an estimation of how many visitors were recreating at the dunes, but said the area was experiencing a “very large crowd.”

The New Year’s Eve weekend is typically the second-busiest weekend or holiday at the dunes, BLM officials said.

On Saturday afternoon, an 8-year-old child suffered injuries to the lower extremities, Boxx said.

The child was run over by a sand rail about 3 p.m. near the Patton Valley area. The child was air-lifted to an undisclosed hospital, Boxx said.

No other information was available on the accident as of press time Saturday.

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Comments:

its me wrote on Jan 4, 2008 7:26 PM:

" DRAGEDY; The quad is labebed all over, no riders under 16 years. We sit and party but let them go W/O supervision. Then CRY. Although there is ALOT of money brouhgt in by these holidays, Dont be suprised if the GOVERNMENT outlaws the I.C. off areas. GOD BLESS THE YOUNGSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 4, 2008 7:44 AM:

" agentbell - the reality is that the desert isnt fun unless you have some type of off road vehicle, the water people have boats, skis, fishing poles, the mountain folks have snowmobiles, skis, snowboards, and the desert has gasoline powered adrenaline pumpers. That's not going to change so there is no point to discussing a ban...what has to change is to raise the safety standards and to enforce them. This will result in new regulation, enforcement infrastructure, paid for by licensing, camping fees etc. and will actually create jobs here. "

holtville1 wrote on Jan 3, 2008 2:49 PM:

" Crafty, I think you might be onto something there. I could set up a booth in the vendor's area selling common sense for $1. Now all I need is a good strong 2X4.... "

Crafty wrote on Jan 3, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Mr. Morales, your labeling of the sand drags as "unauthorized" is a little misleading. There are various government agencies that patrol and and regulate the area. They make no attempts to stop the drag racing that occurs there, except when an accident occurs. Once the accident is cleared, it's back to business as usual. I don't want other readers to view the drags as some illegal activity looked down upon by anyone who hasn't experienced it for themselves. There is nothing "unauthorized" about this event that occurs EVERY WEEKEND during the dune season. "

Crafty wrote on Jan 3, 2008 11:24 AM:

" It truly is tragic when accidents happen, but this was no accident. It was a lack of common sense. Since common sense isn't sold at the vendor area (the markup would be rediculous), we need to watch out for our fellow duners out there. The sand drags should be sectioned off in some way. For the common sense impaired, can you not see the mega-horsepower vehicles barreling toward you at over 100 mph? "

agentbell wrote on Jan 3, 2008 11:22 AM:

" If this is really about enjoying the out doors, enjoying being with family, camping, singing around the camp fire, and taking in the desert enviorment...Then why the Quads, Three Wheelers, $100,000 dollar rails with 600 hp engines ?Can't all of that the desert has to offer be enjoyed without a gasoline powered death machine ?
Apparently not. those I have talked to wouldn't consider going to the dunes unless they brought a sand toy, or knew someone who did. So this is about money, not the great outdoors. "

ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 3, 2008 7:33 AM:

" agentbell...your blaming the greed of the Valley for deaths in the desert is nonsense. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the desert or any other part of Mother Nature. The important thing is to do it safely. Obviously alcohol and driving off road vehicles should be illegal, obviously children need to be taught right from wrong and then be supervised carefully. Hey I think there could be some money to be made in mandatory County run safety courses for off-road licenses!! "

La India wrote on Dec 31, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Out of Towners... They just dont learn to stay home! Too many have lost their lives down there especially the young ones that arent educated enough and old enough to make quick dicisions how many more will follow? "

cinoreah wrote on Dec 31, 2007 12:11 AM:

" When I think of the grade school, middle school and young teens driving/riding ATVs in the dunes alone, I stop and wonder if these same parents would allow their children to drive a vehicle on a busy highway or freeway. In some ways I think they would be safer there than in the dunes. Parents have a responsibility to keep their kids safe and it's becoming more and more obvious the dunes are not safe for these kids. I believe parents need to re-evaluate allowing their kids to ride alone in the dunes. "

ricocafe99 wrote on Dec 30, 2007 6:34 PM:

" The sand dunes are the Valley's natural recreational resource just as the ocean is to coastal cities, lakes and mountians are to communities there. The oceans and lakes offer water sports and some people die from drowning, the mountains offer snow skiing, hiking, and camping and people have died while participating in these pastimes. There is no 100% safe place or way to enjoy mother nature but these deaths of children in the desert we have seen recently could have been avoided and something must be done to protect the children from this happening again. "

cinoreah wrote on Dec 30, 2007 5:51 PM:

" The sand dunes are like a giant Venus Flytrap...just waiting for its next victim. Parents are going to have to start re-thinking their decision in turning their kids loose in the dunes. It's dangerous enough for adults, but there are just simply too many kids losing their lives out there. RIP little ones. "

cv wrote on Dec 30, 2007 1:23 PM:

" most accidents happen near or at home! not sure how much deaths are related to this statistic. it'd be an interesting study. "

masterchief881 wrote on Dec 30, 2007 11:03 AM:

" my heart goes out to the family. PEOPLE LEAVE YOUR KIDS AT HOME, THIS PLACE IS NOT FOR YOUNG ONES. "

agentbell wrote on Dec 30, 2007 10:59 AM:

" As long as the valley reaps their money, they are willing to sacrifice a few young lives a weekend for the cash. The valley has lost plenty of their own children in the dunes, and it did not stop this madness. What on earth makes you think, that Valley Officials won't allow children from outside the county to perish in the name of profits for the county coffers. Folks this is not about fun, being outside, enjoyng nature,.. This is about money plain and simple. And Apparently young lifes do have a price, but This county has not found it yet. "

Chammy wrote on Dec 30, 2007 10:31 AM:

" yeyo the answer is no. When the fun starts and alcohol kicks in rules fly out the window with youngins. When the masses combine together at the dunes it invites all sorts of risks, the population out there surpass most of the towns here in the valley. The dunes seem fun to ride but I never go during the holidays, only the ones who want to be "in" are the ones who follow the croud. Some wonder why I dont take my kids out there, well duh, its only obvious. It only takes one retard to ruin it for someone and the number of idiots that come to the dunes will not decrease. "

sdmrt73 wrote on Dec 30, 2007 10:16 AM:

" dangit.... Kids are supposed to be immortal. Parents shouldn't have to bury little ones....

RIP, kids. Watch over us fools down here... "

yeyo wrote on Dec 30, 2007 8:06 AM:

" How many more terrible incidents like this need to happen, before parents stop putting their children in harms way? If adults want to go and risk life and limb for a few laughs, then go for it and knock yourselves out, but do young ones really realize the risks involved? "

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