HARTFORD -- Police are investigating a fatal ATV accident that happened Thursday evening.
They identified the victim as Tyquann Whitehead, 26, of Hartford.
The crash happened at the intersection of New Britain Ave. and Newfield Ave. where they had the area closed off for several hours.
Police opened the roads back up around 10:15 p.m. Friends of the victim were seen gathering at the crash site for a vigil to remember one of their own.
The victim was a 26-year-old man. Witnesses say he was doing wheelie, lost control, hit a utility pole and rammed into a home.
The man was immediately thrown off the ATV and died on the scene. Hartford Police said ATV drivers are typically in groups and they travel at such a fast speed that police say they cannot even catch up.
Police added they have been working with the city to push or a public act and law that will allow law enforcement to seize dirt bikes and ATV’s off the streets, but the State Attorney’s Office has been reluctant support the proposal.
“This is a difficult problem for the police to enforce. Our hands are tied as to what we can do to enforce it. We’ve tried creative ways, we are somewhat successful. We have constant operations going on to enforce this every single week,” said Lt. Brian Foley of the Hartford Police Department.
Foley also added, “Witnesses on scene have described the incident as a pack of dirt bikes, ATV’s and quads riding around recklessly and masked up. We’ve been having an issue with this in the City of Hartford for several years now. It is without a doubt one of the greater complaints that we get in the summertime.”
No one inside the home was hurt and this incident remains under investigation.
