A recreational vehicle ride ended in tragedy Saturday afternoon at the Glamis Dunes when a 23-year-old San Dimas man was killed, authorities reported. Nicholas Mallard was killed when he was ejected from a quad all terrain vehicle at the Glamis Dunes, just east of Gecko loop. The Imperial County ATV accident was reported at 2:45 p.m. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Our condolences go to the Mallard Family and everyone who knew and loved Nicholas. The accident is the second fatality at the Glamis Dunes reported in less than a month. A 34-year-old man was killed in an accident at the Dune Buggy Flats on October 26, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Glamis Dunes, part of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, each year to enjoy many types of off-road vehicles, including ATVs, utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), dirt bikes, dune buggies and sandrails.
The causes of fatal accidents involving ATVs at sand dunes can vary, and rider inexperience, unsafe riding, and defective vehicles all may contribute to such accidents. In particular at the sand dunes, wind shifts during the day can quickly change the terrain of a slope. Riders should always be familiar with current terrain conditions before increasing speed. As a general rule, if you are going up a steep slope, you cannot anticipate a flat surface at the top.
The California Highway Patrol did not report the type of ATV involved in the November 14 accident. Some off-road vehicles, such as the Yamaha Rhino, have been recalled due to dangerous design flaws which may cause the vehicle to roll over and eject passengers, even at slow speeds and on relatively flat surfaces. If you have been hurt or a family member has been killed in an off-road vehicle accident, it would be recommended to consult a California UTV accident lawyer for an evaluation of your legal rights. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or a family member's wrongful death.
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