Fatal UTV crash remains under investigation
May 14—WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP — A utility task vehicle (UTV) crash in West Mead Township that claimed the life of a 13-year-old Meadville boy and injured another teen Saturday morning remains under investigation.
The name of the deceased has not yet been released by the Crawford County Coroner's Office pending completion of the investigation, Coroner Eric Coston told The Meadville Tribune on Monday.
Rose & Waid Funeral Home of Meadville is handling funeral arrangements.
The boy's death was caused by multiple blunt force trauma, Coston said. The teen was not wearing a helmet and was an unrestrained passenger in the UTV, Coston said.
A UTV is a side-by-side seating style off-road vehicle.
The boy died at Meadville Medical Center, where he had been taken for emergency medical treatment
The 13-year-old and two 14-year-old boys were passengers riding in the UTV driven by another 14-year-old boy which crashed at 10:18 a.m. on Shartle Road, about 500 feet east of Leslie Road, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville. The deceased's age was listed incorrectly in a news release issued by state police.
The driver was negotiating a left curve in the road when the UTV went sideways and rolled onto the passenger side, ejecting the one boy who later died, police said.
The UTV then rolled back upright, spun in the process and left the roadway before coming to a stop in a ditch, police said.
One of the two 14-year-old passengers sustained minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene, police said. No other injuries were reported.
