From staff reports
An ATV crash Saturday in Perry Township, Mercer County, left one man dead and another with suspected serious injuries, Mercer state police said.
Police said the driver of the ATV, Cody Downs, 23, of Jackson Center, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Smith Road, off of Beatty School Road at 2:47 p.m.
Downs’ passenger, Douglas Hawks, 23, of Sandy Lake, was flown from the scene by STAT MedEvac, police said.
Police said Downs, traveling too fast for the road, lost control of the Polaris Sportsman XP-1000 and traveled off the north side of the roadway where the ATV struck a large tree stump which caused both men to be ejected.
Downs struck a tree when he was thrown and both men landed on the north side of the roadway, police said.
Police said neither man wore a helmet.
Police were assisted at the scene by Sheaklyville Volunteer Fire Department.
