Father, kids airlifted to hospital following ATV accident in south Monterey County

A father and his two children suffered moderate to major injuries after a rollover all-terrain vehicle accident in south Monterey County.

The crash took place in the 45000 block of Arroyo Seco Road in Greenfield on Wednesday.

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the father was holding one of his children when he lost control of his ATV and it began to roll down a hill.

KION spoke with an ATV shop about riding safety.

“The only quads that are allowed to have two people have to legally from the factory have a second seat and bigger frame,” Martin Grothe, with the Salinas Motorcycle Center said.

According to Grothe it can often be a free-for-all when you’re out riding on your own property.

“People don’t even wear helmets,” Grothe said. “They don’t even register them. They can even build a whole go cart in their backyard and go for a ride. It’s totally up to them, it’s their liability.”

“To make matters worse, the ATV struck the second child while it was rolling down the hill,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement.

All three suffered moderate to major injuries and were taken by helicopter to a Bay Area hospital. The Sheriff’s Office says one of the children possibly suffered a broken limb.

Arroyo Seco Road was temporarily closed.

AMR Ambulance, CalFire, South Monterey County Fire, Monterey County Park Rangers and the California Highway Patrol responded to the accident.