As eyewitness relives fatal crash, minister promises ATV, recreational vehicle rule changes are imminent

Increasing recreational vehicle incidents and fatalities in Newfoundland and Labrador are being met with similarly escalating condemnation, as the provincial government promises beefed-up legislation to deal with the problem is on its way.

As of Tuesday, six people have died in ATV crashes in the province in 2021. That doesn't include deaths involving other off-road vehicles, like last Saturday's crash between a dirt bike and a motorcycle on Pitts Memorial Drive in St. John's that killed the motorcyclist.

Passing motorists Doug Kavanagh and his wife watched that last accident unfold before their eyes, and said the teenager on the dirt bike was crossing the highway at the time.

"That man, he died right in front of us, and it needs to be told that that was totally preventable. There is no need for this to happen. Absolutely not," Kavanagh said.

Kavanagh called 911, and said he saw two children flee the scene with an ATV. They're not the first kids to use the highway, he said — it's been happening for years.

"I've never had an incident, but you know, when you see it happen right in front of you and you see the results — it hits home, right? You just say, this got to stop," he said.

On the heels of Saturday's crash, an ATV and a car collided head-on near Paddy's Pond on Tuesday, killing the ATV driver.