One dead, one injured in unrelated ATV crashes

COLFAX - Two unrelated ATV crashes over the July 4 weekend left one man dead and another injured.

Alfred Laponza Jr., 50, of Seven Hills, Ohio, was pronounced dead at an crash scene near Colfax on Saturday, July 2.

At 7:09 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of an ATV crash with unknown injuries in the area of McNeilly Road about a mile west of the city.

Deputies responding to the scene determined an adult male - later identified as Laponza - was riding a Honda 3-wheeler in a field when he went over a dirt berm at a high rate of speed, records show.

Deputies determined the 3-wheeler went airborne, causing the Laponza to be thrown from the ATV, records show. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The Whitman County Coroner's and Sherriff's Offices are sto;; investigating the fatal crash.

The second crash occurred about 8:07 p.m. Sunday, July 3, near Tekoa.

That crash was reported off near Milepost 54 of state Highway 27, Sgt. Dan Brown reported via social media.

Deputies determined the injured adult male - whose name had not yet been released by press time - was approximately 1.50 miles northeast of a residence in a tree line near the top of Tekoa Mountain, Brown said.

The rider was able to contact a family member by cell phone to give his general location, Brown said.

Tekoa and Rosalia emergency crews responded and the injured rider was located, records show.

Due to the location and the rider's injuries, a LifeFlight helicopter was dispatched to the scene, records show.

The rider was taken to a landing zone by rescue personnel and transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Author Bio

Olivia Harnack, Editorial Reporter

Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.

• Email: editor@wcgazette.com