Victims named from weekend fatals By SILVIO J. PANTA, Staff Writer
Monday, February 25, 2008 11:02 PM PST
The names of victims involved in two separate fatal crashes that occurred within hours of each other at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area were released Monday.
Yucaipa resident Stephanie Ann Katin, 26, was killed Saturday after being partially ejected from a rented Yamaha Rhino all-terrain vehicle that slid sideways down a 30-foot sand dune. Katin sat in the right front passenger seat.
The vehicle lost traction when Katin’s 29-year-old husband, Paul, turned left and tried driving it down the dune after reaching its crest, California Highway Patrol Officer Gil Caldera said.
The Yucaipa couple wore the stock lap- and shoulder seat belts that came with the vehicle during the 12:43 p.m. incident, Caldera said. Paul Katin suffered no injuries and the crash is still under investigation, Caldera said.
Nearly an hour and a half later that same day a 14-year-old Downey boy was killed in a second crash.
Richer Erl Masse was the unrestrained passenger of an ATV Rhino, Imperial County Deputy Coroner Henry Proo said, when the driver drove over a sand dune.
The recreational vehicle landed on its front bumper and ejected Masse on impact, California Highway Patrol Officer Enrique Romero said. The Rhino’s roll cage landed on top of Masse as the vehicle overturned, Romero said.
The accident started when the driver’s boot became lodged under the brake, causing the accelerator pedal to remain down, Highway Patrol Officer Wes Boerner said. The 16-year-old driver from Santa Ana approached the crest of a dune around 30 mph, Romero said.
Masse suffered major head injuries that he later died from at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, Romero said.
The 16-year-old motorist, whose name was not released, suffered pain to his left knee during the 2 p.m. crash. The teen wore his lap and shoulder harness seat belt, Romero said.
" I have been dunning for over 30 years and these accidents where a life is lost is really, really sad and I wish with all my heart that it did not happen.
There need to be some excellent safety measure rules for all off road vehicles and that includes these Rhino's. My jeep has a 5 point seat belt and I would not get into an off road vehicle with out one.
Peoples lives are very important and for someone to die on the dunes because they are
not experienced enough or have the knowledge,
well something should be done to help save lives. And, I hope that it starts with just information either on the internet or advertisements of some kind.
My condolences goes out to both families.
Kathy Williams "
lacosta wrote on Feb 26, 2008 8:32 PM:
" These vehicles were not designed for dunning!They should be used only for what they were designed to do.'UTILITY VEHICLES" If a dealer tried to sell me one on the pretences that it could be used as a dune buggy I'd sue him! Too many kids and adults are getting injured. "
wackjob wrote on Feb 26, 2008 8:30 AM:
" The seat belts in stock rhinos are crap! "
jsyi wrote on Feb 26, 2008 1:07 AM:
" Clearly operator error in both cases. Stock Rhino's are not dune worthy.....when will people understand? "
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Kathy Williams wrote on Feb 28, 2008 5:15 PM:
There need to be some excellent safety measure rules for all off road vehicles and that includes these Rhino's. My jeep has a 5 point seat belt and I would not get into an off road vehicle with out one.
Peoples lives are very important and for someone to die on the dunes because they are
not experienced enough or have the knowledge,
well something should be done to help save lives. And, I hope that it starts with just information either on the internet or advertisements of some kind.
My condolences goes out to both families.
Kathy Williams "