Wayne man killed in ATV accident
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on June 3, 2007 2:01 AM
A Fremont man was killed early Saturday when he was ejected from his all-terrain vehicle on Napoleon Road just outside the city limits.
Jason Thompson, 28, of Davis Mill Road, was apparently driving on the dirt road near his home when tragedy struck sometime after 1:30 a.m., Highway Patrol Trooper J.B. Smith said.
"His wife just said he wanted to ride the four-wheeler," Smith said.
Officials believe the accident was caused by the tow strap on the ATV.
"It looked like one of the ends (of the tow strap) came off and wrapped around the axle," Highway Patrol Trooper Sgt. B.K. Henline said. "The ATV continued to move forward, but the axle stopped and the tires stopped spinning."
The tires locked up and began to dig into the dirt, causing the ATV to flip twice. The tow strap was still attached to rack on the back of the ATV.
Smith said he believes Thompson was ejected off of the vehicle during the first flip. He landed 33 feet away.
"It was just one of those freak things," Smith said. "The four-wheeler was still good to go. Just the rack was bent a little bit."
About an hour after he left, Thompson's wife, Crystal Thompson, started to miss him and went to look for him. That's when she discovered her husband and called authorities.
Troopers from the Highway Patrol, Wayne County sheriff's deputies, firefighters from the Fremont Volunteer Fire Department and Wayne County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene at about 2:30 a.m.
Smith said they do not know yet what killed Thomp-son, but noted that he was not wearing a helmet.
Saturday's accident was the second fatal ATV accident in seven weeks. On April 8, Bobby Renfrow, 31, of Raleigh, was killed at Busco Beach on Bryan Boulevard. He also was not wearing a helmet.