A late-night ATV ride ended with a juvenile in custody after deputies say he ignored emergency lights, sped down a dead-end road, and tried to escape through a yard before becoming trapped between two vehicles.
The incident began shortly before midnight when a deputy spotted two ATVs entering a public roadway.
When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the riders allegedly had other plans.
According to the report, as emergency lights activated, the two ATVs split up in opposite directions.
One turned left.
The other turned right.
The deputy chose the ATV heading right and quickly noticed several problems.
The red Honda ATV reportedly had two riders and no working taillights.
As the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, he pulled alongside and ordered the occupants to stop.
Instead, according to the report, the passenger yelled, “Go! Go! Go!”
The ATV continued down the roadway, reaching speeds of approximately 15 to 30 miles per hour as deputies followed.
The chase eventually reached the dead end of Township Road 205.
Rather than surrender, investigators say the rider attempted a last-second escape route.
With a patrol vehicle blocking the roadway, the ATV allegedly cut through a residential yard and attempted to leave using a lower driveway.
That plan didn’t work.
The ATV became wedged between two parked vehicles and could go no farther.
Deputies approached on foot and ordered both occupants to the ground.
This time, they complied.
Both riders were secured without further incident.
During the investigation, the driver reportedly admitted he had been drinking and told deputies he had handed an open beer to his passenger while operating the ATV.
Because alcohol was involved, the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to conduct field sobriety testing.
Troopers ultimately determined the driver passed the tests.
The investigation revealed the ATV rider was a juvenile and did not possess a valid driver’s license.
Deputies also learned the second ATV that initially fled was being operated by another individual who left the area before officers could stop him.
The juvenile passenger was released to a guardian.
The driver was transported to the Lawrence County Juvenile Center.
He was cited for operating a vehicle without working taillights, driving without a valid license, and illegally operating an off-road vehicle on a public roadway.
He also faces criminal charges for open container violations and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
Adding to the night’s troubles, investigators say the ATV struck a vehicle near the dead end of the road during the attempted escape.
Fortunately for the driver, the owner of the damaged vehicle declined to pursue charges because it was an unregistered farm truck.
ATVs and Public Roads Don’t Mix
Law enforcement officials routinely remind riders that ATVs are generally not designed or licensed for regular roadway use.
Many ATV crashes occur when riders enter public roads where they encounter traffic, limited visibility, and higher speeds.
Adding alcohol, passengers, or attempts to flee from police dramatically increases the risk of serious injury.
In this case, what began as a late-night ride ended with citations, criminal charges, a trip to juvenile detention, and one ATV stuck between two parked vehicles.
