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5-year-old central Florida boy dies after ATV crash

Posted at 1:08 PM, Nov 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-14 13:08:00-05

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a 5-year-old boy is dead after the all-terrain vehicle he was riding on with his father crashed in central Florida.

Polk County Sheriff's officials told local news outlets that 32-year-old Joshua Heard was driving the ATV on Saturday afternoon when he made a U-turn, accelerated and went over a grass mound. That's when the passenger side front tire support arm broke and the ATV rolled over several times.

An incident report says Heard and his son Eli were thrown from the vehicle. The child was wearing a soft helmet that was not designed for use with motorized vehicles.

They were taken to a Lakeland hospital where the little boy was declared dead. Officials say Heard suffered possible broken ribs.

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