11-Year-Old Crashes Utility Vehicle Loaded With Kids

An 11-year old boy in northwestern Minnesota crashed a utility vehicle that was overloaded with kids after swerving to avoid a dog on a rural road. The incident happened Tuesday night on 560^th Avenue in Runeberg Township. The boy operating a Polaris Ranger utility task vehicle injured himself as well as eight other kids riding along.

Five of the children were taken by ambulance to a Detroit Lakes hospital, three were taken to a Park Rapids hospital, and a 6- year old boy was flown to a hospital in Fargo.

According to the Sheriff everyone is expected to be fine. However, he did add that children under 12 years old are not permitted to drive that type of vehicle or any other kind of ATVs on public roads in Minnesota.

The Sheriffs department is investigating whether any charges need to be filed in connection with the crash.