12-year-old killed in UTV accident in Macoupin County

BUNKER HILL, Ill. — A young girl was killed and another injured in a UTV accident in rural Bunker Hill on Saturday.

Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl told 5 On Your Side that officers received the 911 call about the crash around 11 a.m. Saturday. Two girls, ages 11 and 12, were driving a Polaris Ranger UTV south on Shaw Road, about a half-mile south of Prairie Dell Road, when they lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over several times.

Both girls were thrown from the UTV, Kahl said. The 12-year-old died in the crash, and the 11-year-old was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Nothing was known about the condition of the eleven-year-old on Tuesday morning; the circumstances of the accident were still being investigated.

The sheriff said he has seen an increase in UTV accidents over the past 10 years and reminded the public that these vehicles can be dangerous. They are not designed for road use and have more horsepower than expected. You also need to wear seat belts and make sure the driver can operate the vehicle, Kahl said.

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