Around 12:10 p.m. this afternoon, Saturday, November 12, 2016, 32 year old Joshua Heard of Old Dade City Road in Lakeland, and his 5 year old son, Eli, were on a blue Polaris ATV in an area near 3705 West Socrum Loop Road in the Kathleen area. Eli was sitting in front of his father on the ATV, wearing a soft helmet (not DOT-rated or designed for use with motorized vehicles). Joshua was not wearing a helmet.
Joshua was operating the ATV southbound on a dirt road when he made a U-turn, accelerated, and went northbound over a grass mound, after which the passenger side front tire support arm broke, causing the ATV to roll several times, ejecting both occupants.
Both were transported to LRHMC, where Eli was declared deceased. Joshua suffered possible broken ribs.
The investigation is ongoing.
