ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal ATV crash that killed a 12-year-old girl and injured a 13-year-old girl.
The sheriff’s office reports the crash happened at about 7:00 p.m. Saturday in the Grande Hills neighborhood near Bush Louisiana.
Deputies say the two girls were riding an ATV vehicle on Churchill Downs Drive just south of Hialeah Drive when for an unknown reason the ATV went off the roadway and struck a tree.
The girls were transported by emergency medical personnel to the hospital. The 12-year-old succumbed to her injuries early Sunday morning, the sheriff’s office says. The 13-year-old girl's condition is unknown at this time.
St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Charles Preston later identified the 12-year-old killed as Payton Strain.
“All too often families are devastated by accidents involving ATVs, especially those that severely injure or take the lives of children. The Coroner’s office staff joins me and the victim’s family and friends in mourning this loss of life and in urging parents to take the greatest possible precautions in allowing children to drive an ATV alone or without attentive supervision,” said Dr. Preston.
“This is any parent’s worst nightmare. Whenever a child is involved in a tragic accident, it affects the whole community,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both girls.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Strain family.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
