Teen Killed in ATV Crash in Kent County

KENT COUNTY, TX — A 15-year-old boy was killed in an all-terrain vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Kent County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS officials said the crash occurred around noon Jan. 3 on County Road 438, about 0.25 miles east of State Highway 70. The crash involved a single Polaris Ranger Crew ATV and resulted in one death. No other injuries were reported.

According to DPS, a 14-year-old girl from New Home was driving the ATV eastbound when she approached a curve in the roadway. Investigators said the driver was traveling too fast for road conditions, causing the ATV to overturn.

The 15-year-old passenger from Tahoka was ejected from the vehicle and pinned underneath it. He was transported to Fisher County Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:43 p.m. DPS reported that he was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver and a second passenger, a 7-year-old boy from New Home, were not injured. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, according to DPS.

Weather conditions were clear, and the road was dry at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit in the area is 30 mph.