ATV accidents can be deadly.

COUNTRYSIDE: I am writing regarding your September/October article on ATVs and the circle of history. It is a very good article full of good ideas for ATV use around the house. The article mentions small spray units as still being a major use for ATVs and this is what I wish to warn your readers about. While it seems ideal to strap a sprayer on a four-wheeler for multiple spraying purposes, it may not be the safest way to proceed. Due to the shifting center of gravity of the machine coupled with the shifting of the liquid in the tank, rollovers are occurring when they normally wouldn't resulting in injury and death.

On Memorial Day 2003 while using such a setup, I was easing down a grade when the rear of the machine began to come forward. With the tank on the back, it was impossible to lean back in order to prevent its forward momentum; thus, as it continued forward I was trapped and unable to get out of the way of the tank as it landed on my left shoulder crushing the humeral head with the landing. Even after a week in the hospital for a humeral head replacement, months in physical therapy, and continued treatment from some excellent physicians, I continue to have problems as the result of nerve damage to the area. It was deja vu early this summer when The McKenzie Banner reported a man from Trezevant, TN had died as a result of a four-wheeler rollover. It was termed "a freak accident" but I cannot help but feel it is an unrecognized predictable reaction which can be prevented. I'm not suggesting sprayer tanks be abandon by four-wheel users but a safer means of mounting must be considered.

A third incident involving a sprayer tank and four-wheeler rollover was reported to me by my cousin. This incident resulted in a back fracture. All these incidents occurred in a small geographical area in west Tennessee and within a two year span. I hope this information is useful enough for you to warn your readers of this danger.--C. Tony B., Tennessee; [e-mail]