ATV accident Death and Injury Statistics - Iowa

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are motorized off-road vehicles made for traveling on four low-pressure tires. However, some older versions have three wheels. The number of wheels makes them a more stable off-road ride than dirt bikes. The rider straddles the seat and operates the machine with handlebars. Single-rider models are for one person only; whereas, two-up ATVs can have one driver and one passenger. These vehicles are popular in rural areas of Iowa where they are used for recreation and on farms. They work as transport through trails, woodlands, open fields, and rocky land.

ATVs can pose a danger to riders. Safety precautions help prevent injuries and death from accidents that can result in fires, explosions, serious injuries, and even death. According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, Iowa has seen a total of 157 people have died in ATV accidents between 1982 and 2012.

ATV Deaths

Far too many have lost their lives from terrible ATV crashes. Open-top vehicles may or may not have roll bars for protection. Riders have been ejected during crashes. Four-wheelers can roll over and pin riders under them. The following are some of Iowa’s recent deadly wrecks.

  • Logan Luft, 15, was in a deadly ATV accident on the Fourth of July 2017. The Charles City teen suffered a brain injury from the accident that was ultimately fatal.
  • June 2017, Joseph Edward Rouse, 55, of Boone was operating his ATV in Gypsum City OHV Park in north central Iowa when he lost control, departed the trail and crashed into a small ravine. Emergency responders found him unconscious and pinned beneath the vehicle. Rouse was wearing a helmet when he crashed.
  • May 2017, Lindsay Michael Stupp, 32, was died from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident that occurred on private property outside Steamboat Rock. Stupp was a former Staff Sergeant in the Iowa Army National Guard, and he worked as an electrician at Iowa Central Electric in Alden.
  • April 2017, Colby Schleuger, 14, lost control of this ATV northwest of Forest City. The vehicle departed the road and rolled into a ditch. The teen was a freshman at Forest City High School.

Fires and Malfunctions

Off-road vehicles can pose serious hazards from fires and explosions. Recently, Polaris Industries, a major manufacturer of the vehicles, had to recall all 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbos and RZR XP 4 Turbos because the engines can overheat. If the drain tube on the turbo system comes loose, it can cause fires

Serious Injuries

Accidents have caused injuries, fires, and the loss of life across the state. Riders should wear protective gear and attend hands-on training to learn safety precautions for preventing serious injuries. The following are some of the serious injuries that have happened in Iowa.

  • June 2017, Steven Robert Totten, 29, was ejected from his ATV after losing control.  The accident happened on Forest Mills Road in Allamakee County. Totten was first transported to Veterans Memorial Hospital by ambulance and then had to be airlifted to Gundersen Lutheran Hospital.
  • February 2017, just south of Lone Tree, a 12-year-old boy was driving an ATV when a tanker truck collided into him. He was trying to cross Waspi Avenue on a 2005 Honda ATV when he was struck side-on by a northbound truck. The child had to be airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic.