A 12-year-old Fort Wayne boy was one of two persons injured over the weekend in separate off-road vehicle accidents in Jasper County, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said.

On Saturday, DNR said, the boy was operating an all-terrain vehicle in rural Rensselaer when he struck a log and both the boy and his passenger were thrown. The passenger was unharmed but the boy sustained lacerations to his head and knee. He was treated at a local hospital and released, DNR said.

Then, at 2 a.m. Sunday, Jason Hunt, 33, of Wheatfield, was operating a dirt bike on C.R. 400W when he struck a “modified medical scooter” being driven by Peter Dean, 35, also of Wheatfield. “Hunt and Dean were operating both vehicles on the roadway when Dean’s medical scooter ran out of gas,” DNR said. “Hunt left to retrieve extra gas for the disabled vehicle. When he returned to the scene he hit the stationary scooter that was still sitting in the roadway.”

Hunt sustained injuries to his head and face and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

DNR encourages operator always to wear a helmet and proper safety equipment while operating off-road vehicles.

In addition, it is illegal to operate an off-road vehicle on a public roadway and any off-road vehicle purchased after Dec. 31, 2003, must be registered with DNR.

Posted 6/26/2012