By JENNIFER C. KERR Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON—At least 555 people—including more than 100 children—died in all-terrain vehicle accidents in 2006. Government safety officials expect the number to go much higher as they receive information from coroners and hospitals nationwide.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that an additional 146,600 people were treated in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries—more than a quarter of them children.

In its annual report released Thursday, the CPSC said Pennsylvania has had the highest number of reported ATV deaths since 1982, followed by California, West Virginia, Texas and Kentucky. Every state had at least one death attributed to ATVs. …

"The signs are pointing to a very dangerous trend into more than 800 deaths per year," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson. The agency is still gathering data as far back as 2003. The report updates CPSC data with numbers from 2006, the latest year that agency staff have analyzed.

In 2005, there were 666 confirmed deaths related to ATVs, and the CPSC estimates the toll for that year could reach 870.

While overall injuries have risen steadily since 1997, injuries to children were down from 44,700 in 2004 to 39,300 in 2006. …

In more than 75 percent of the incidents where speed could be determined, it appeared that ATVs were going too fast for conditions. In nearly 60 percent of the fatalities, riders were not wearing helmets.

Sales of ATVs have declined, down from 912,000 in 2004 to an estimated 759,000 ATVs that were sold in the United States last year.

The Denver Post – More than 500 people died in ATV accidents in 2006

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