Cincinnatus Woman Dies Weeks After Serious ATV Crash
Police said the ATV overturned after the driver swerved to avoid a porcupine on a rural Cortland County road.
A Cincinnatus woman ATV crash has ended in tragedy nearly three weeks after the July 7 accident. New York State Police said Natasha R. Kinney, 34, died July 26 from injuries she suffered when her ATV overturned on Stramba Road in the Cortland County town of Freetown.
Police said Kinney was operating the ATV southeast on Stramba Road when she swerved to avoid a porcupine. The vehicle overturned, rolled into a roadside ditch and ejected her.
Kinney was taken to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse with serious injuries. State Police announced her death on July 28.
Crash happened shortly before midnight
Troopers from the State Police barracks in Homer responded at approximately 11:50 p.m. July 7 to the 4200 block of Stramba Road following a report of an ATV crash.
According to the official State Police release, investigators determined that Kinney was traveling southeast when she encountered the animal in the roadway.
Her attempt to avoid the porcupine caused the ATV to overturn and roll into the ditch, police said. The impact threw her from the vehicle.
The sequence reported by police was:
- Kinney was driving southeast on Stramba Road.
- A porcupine was in the roadway.
- She swerved to avoid striking the animal.
- The ATV overturned and entered a ditch.
- Kinney was ejected and seriously injured.
- She died at the hospital on July 26.
The State Police release did not identify any passengers or other vehicles involved in the accident. It also did not cite speed, alcohol or drugs as contributing factors, and it did not announce any charges.
Early reports documented serious injuries
Initial reports published after the accident said Kinney was hospitalized with serious injuries. The Cortland Voice reported on July 10 that she had been transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University following the rollover.
On July 28, State Police confirmed that Kinney had died two days earlier.
The official release did not provide further information about the nature of her injuries or medical treatment. Authorities also did not release additional personal information about Kinney.
Although one local outlet reported that police said Kinney was not wearing a helmet, that detail does not appear in the written State Police release. The Utica Phoenix has therefore not presented it as an independently confirmed fact.
ATV rollovers can happen quickly
The circumstances of the crash illustrate how quickly a routine ride can turn dangerous when an animal or another unexpected obstacle enters a rider’s path.
Swerving may sometimes appear to be the only immediate response. However, a sudden turn can affect an ATV’s stability, particularly on a road shoulder, uneven surface or sloped terrain. The precise condition of Stramba Road at the time of this crash was not detailed in the police report.
Federal safety officials identify overturning and rider ejection as two major dangers associated with off-highway vehicles.
“The dangers of riding off-highway vehicles are real,” the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns in its ATV safety guidance.
The commission reports that off-highway vehicles are associated with an annual average of:
- More than 800 deaths
- Approximately 100,000 emergency department-treated injuries
- Thousands of rollover, collision and ejection incidents
CPSC data covering 2018 through 2020 identified 2,448 deaths connected to off-highway vehicles nationwide. ATVs accounted for more than two-thirds of those deaths.
The federal figures cover several types of off-highway vehicles and should not be interpreted as statistics specific to New York or Cortland County.
Safety guidance for ATV operators
The CPSC urges ATV riders to understand the vehicle, terrain and potential hazards before setting out. Its recommendations include:
- Wear a properly fitted helmet and eye protection.
- Use boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Take hands-on instruction from a qualified trainer.
- Avoid riding on paved or public roads except where crossing is legally permitted.
- Do not consume alcohol before or while operating an ATV.
- Carry only the number of riders the vehicle was designed to hold.
- Use an ATV that is appropriate for the operator’s age and size.
- Slow down when visibility is limited or animals may be present.
- Inspect brakes, tires, lights and controls before riding.
Protective equipment cannot prevent every crash. It can, however, reduce certain injury risks when a rider is thrown from a vehicle or an ATV overturns.
Training is also important because steering an ATV involves shifting body weight and responding differently than a driver would in a passenger vehicle. Experience on a car or motorcycle does not automatically prepare someone for every ATV maneuver.
A fatal outcome for a Central New York family
Kinney’s death marks a tragic end to an accident that initially left her hospitalized in serious condition. It also leaves a Cincinnatus family and community grieving a sudden loss.
The verified facts remain limited to the information released by State Police. Authorities have not announced additional findings about the ATV, the road surface or other possible factors.
Residents who operate ATVs can honor the seriousness of this loss by reviewing their own riding practices, using protective equipment and encouraging family members to complete hands-on safety training.
Anyone seeking more information about ATV precautions can consult the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety center.
