ATV Flips, Kills Eastern Kentucky Man

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Posted: 5:33 AM May 5, 2008
Last Updated: 5:33 AM May 5, 2008

23 comments

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An eastern Kentucky man is dead after flipping his ATV in Magoffin County.

Police say 51-year old David Stephens of Salyersville ran off the road on his ATV, hit an embankment, then flipped the ATV back onto the roadway.

Police say Stephens suffered severe head injuries.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Kim on May 7, 2008 at 12:01 AM
was there anyone else hurt in the accident??

Posted by: Bell Location: Salyserville on May 6, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I'm sorry, about your dad danny and tia

Posted by: pandora Location: down south on May 6, 2008 at 02:54 PM
My prayers go out to this mans family.I lost a good friend years ago to a ATV accident.They were hit head on by a car.The driver of the car was on the wrong side of the road was drunk and had no drivers license or insurance.Seems we should be more concerned with whats driving down the road in a car more than a ATV.If the state would make it legal to ride[require insurance /license/ tags and require a helmet plus a riding test min age of 16]they might be a few less accident on one.You riding scared of being caught you will be more careless and more likely to make mistakes and wreck.The money the state would make from taxing license fees and insurance would probably get the state out of debt! ATV ratio and cars about the same here in Ky.I know id be willing to pay for license insurance and a few taxes to be able to ride legally.Seems to me the only thing wrong was this person may not have had a helmet? May God BLESS this mans family i know what it like to lose someone this way.

Posted by: G Location: Stanton on May 6, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Michael, how can you say that's another stupid person we dont have to worry about? No matter what, that was a person, someones child, someones husband, someones father, he was someone to somebody. For you to say that is heartless and cold. Even if this accident was his fault somebody is hurting right now because of his death. I'm glad you are not a family memeber of mine! As far as trying to blame policemen/women that's just absolutely absurd!!! Come on they do try, they can't be EVERYWHERE 24/7.

Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 6, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Well I guess the cops could just shoot these people off their ATVs before they hurt themselves or anyone else right? You people are stupid. It's not the fault of the police. It's the fault of stupid people being allowed to operate something as dangerous as an ATV. Repeat after me: SOME PEOPLE JUST SHOULD NOT HAVE KIDS BECAUSE THEY GROW UP TO BE AS STUPID AS THEIR PARENTS!

Posted by: classmate Location: Allen on May 6, 2008 at 07:39 AM
I was a classmate of David and knew him very well! He was always a risk taker and that was just the way he was! My prayers go out to the family! He was special to me.

Posted by: Susan Location: BC Canada on May 5, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I live in a town of 23,000 people. ATV;s became very popular here approximately 10 years ago and there has not been one single death due to an atv accident. Everyone wears helmets and has insurance. Yes there were a few close calls, my own one of them, but that was due to inexperience which I think is the problem there also. Atv's are not bicycles and should be classified as a motor vehicle with the same regulations.

Posted by: annoumous Location: magoffin on May 5, 2008 at 09:34 PM
yes this was sharon stephens husband of magoffin

Posted by: Jerry Location: Lex on May 5, 2008 at 07:40 PM
I have riden these things before up in the mountains of eastern Ky. While they can be fun, more than often, people just get plain stupid. People get on these things, take off and forget to engage their brains. More often than not alcohol is involved. You act ignorant, you pay the price.

Posted by: nealson Location: pikeville on May 5, 2008 at 06:50 PM
This is tragic for family, friends, and lots of compassionate people all around. Some people say "where are the police"? I know where they are. Taking care of a large area of the county. There is no way the police could monitor ATV riding to any degree because everyone loves them. I would never get on an ATV but, I know people that love them. We should try to think about Mr. Stephens, he was doing what he truly loved!!! Let it make everyone feel some relief with that thought. Thanks

Posted by: citizen on May 5, 2008 at 05:39 PM
My prayers go out to the wife and his two daughters left behind. May God bring them Peace and help them through this time of sorrow.

Posted by: Dee Location: Knoxville, Tn on May 5, 2008 at 04:48 PM
51 is an adult,or you'd think, we teach our kids to use safty gear ridding bikes and roller skates, Use helmets on motor bikes...The same goes for ATV'S My prayers are with the family of this man, we all take life for granted. Don't blame the law inforcement for our on stupid mistakes, Wear helments when riding....

Posted by: mike Location: whitesburg on May 5, 2008 at 04:25 PM
shame on all of you our first thoughts should be for the mans family and he was a grown man sometimes accidents just happen

Posted by: citizen on May 5, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Everyone wants to know where is the cops? Well the cops cannot be everywhere. They are not superhero's. They can only be called to a scene of something in progress or the scene of a bad vehicle accident after it has occured. The cops cannot prevent accidents from happening. They can give citations and warnings if they catch you.

Posted by: JR Location: CORBIN on May 5, 2008 at 03:26 PM
I HAVE 3 OF MY OWN & YES I HAVE WRECKED & BEEN SENT TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT THEY BLAME IT ON THE ATVS BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO BLAME IT ON IS THE RIDERS ITSELF AND THE WAY GAS IS YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THEM ON THE ROAD ,MY PRAYERS OUT TO THE FAMILY.

Posted by: cop Location: east ky on May 5, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Tony you sound mad at the police also , What did you get cought speeding and not wearing your seat belt ? Why do you all want to point at other people for this when he was the only one in it. So dont blame the cops because something went wrong . You should say a prayer for this man.. I guess you never do any wrong.

Posted by: Mack Location: Harlan on May 5, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Yes People die. some in cars, trucks, working, walking, and sometimes watching TV. but let someone die on an atv then its lets outlaw all of them. sorry someday death will visit us all and baning the cause will not save a life. Sometimes its the cause for if you outlaw atv's people will only drive like outlaws causeing more deaths of riders trying to out run the police. so lets save people by encouraging safety not new laws. as for the rider my prayers are with the family in this time of thier sorrows.

Posted by: Dewey Location: Lexington on May 5, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Yes, and now a few "Judge" Executives, state politicians, and other officials are attempting to add to the ATV insanity by crowing for them to be made legal for use on county roads and highways. This is supposed to foster tourism so people will haul their ATV's to Kentucky to ride them. (Their home states are smarter than to allow them free reign on public roads). Automobile insurance in KY is high enough already without turning another unnecessary safety hazard loose.

Posted by: TONY Location: LANCASTER on May 5, 2008 at 01:15 PM
OH THE LAW IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT ATV'S THEY HAVE MUCH MORE HARD CRIMINAL'S TO CATCH.YOU KNOW THE ONE'S SPEEDING & NOT WEARING SEAT BELT'S ETC.

Posted by: cop Location: east ky on May 5, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Terri I am a cop that works this area. You say where are the cops? The cops are not to blame for this the man is 51 he should know the laws. What if the cops tried to stop him and he took off running and caused another wreck that hurt or killed a kid that had nothing to do with it. I am sorry that this man got killed and I am sorry that you feel wwe should have been there but we cant be all over .

Posted by: Citizens on May 5, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Was this Sharon Stephens husband from salyersville?? Does anyone know?

Posted by: JJ Location: Viper on May 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Where was this man's helmet??

Posted by: Joey Location: Lex on May 5, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Isn't the first time it happened and it won't be the last until people realize that these things are dangerous and if not used properly, injury or death can and will occur.

Posted by: Michael on May 5, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Why is it the fault of law enforcement terri? They can't be everywhere. How about common sense on the part of the ATV operator? Seems they are nothing but stupid people driving these things. They don't operate them per the owner's manual and if they get killed, that's another stupid person we don't have to worry about. Get a grip; personal responsibility comes before law enforcement.

Posted by: ls Location: KY on May 5, 2008 at 09:30 AM
I really hate to hear about a death regardless of the cause. I am a firm believer that when it is your time, you are going to die. It doesn't matter if it is on an ATV or walking down the sidewalk. Maybe they should make people tag and insure their ATV's.

Posted by: ATV Safety Advocate Location: Eastern Kentucky on May 5, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I think this accident is typical of ATV accidents. I sympathize with the family of this man. However, I think there should be laws that require use of helmets, a drivers license to operate, registration just like a boat, and insurance to cover medical and funeral expenses incurred from riding ATV's. Come on, Kencucky, why fuss about coal mine regulations when we get 5 times as many people killed per year on ATV's than in the mines.

Posted by: terri Location: eastern ky on May 5, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Well here we go again another ATV death onthe road and where were the cops?You can bet that this person had no insurance like all the rest and he could just as easily killed someone else. I guess my question to law enforcement is when are you going to get a grip on this situation?I would suggest that the Watts area of Breathitt county is a good place to start considering one was almost killed there last week-end. The road # is 1278.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 5, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Prayers to the family.

Posted by: charles jones Location: lostcreek on May 5, 2008 at 06:44 AM
atv deaths are a common news item. this item will be a daily reporting. eastern leads the nation in death caused by atv's.with the liberal atv laws just passed by the state the next goal may be world leader ship in atv deaths.

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