Three injured in ATV crash

By Jon Johnson, Staff Writer

An accident involving an ATV and a dirt bike resulted in three injured area teenagers Wednesday.

Police were called to the farm road that extends north of First Avenue at about 3:36 p.m. on Wednesday and found the victims lying on the ground.

According to Sgt. J.R. Nelson, both vehicles were traveling southbound when one of the vehicles attempted to pass the other. One vehicle bumped the other, causing both to lose control.

Jacob Hatch, 17, and Stephanie Udall, 15, both of Thatcher, were riding the ATV when it flipped. Hatch was found in a concrete ditch east of the road. He had suffered massive head injuries and was airlifted to University Medical Center in Tucson. He is in serious condition.

The ATV rolled over Udall during the crash, and she had multiple internal injuries. She was airlifted to UMC as well and is in critical condition.

Tucker Brown, 16, of Safford was riding the dirt bike and was found on the west side of the road. His injuries were not as severe as the others and he was taken to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, mostly for road rash. Brown was released from the hospital Thursday.

None of the riders were wearing helmets.

“If they would have been wearing helmets it probably would have reduced some of the head injuries,” Sgt. Nelson said.