ATV rollover crash ejects teens, killing 15-year-old high school student in Nevada County
A 15-year-old boy was killed on Saturday after he and his teenage driver were ejected from the vehicle on a private property in Nevada County, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol officers were called after 7:30 p.m. to Hillside Terrace, a private property east of Dog Bar Road.
A preliminary investigation showed a 14-year-old boy attempted to steer the ATV uphill when it rolled over, said Officer Jason Bice, a spokesman for the CHP’s Grass Valley office.
Both occupants in the ATV were ejected and the 4-wheeler struck the 15-year-old boy, a passenger, Bice said.
A helicopter helped to retrieve the 15-year-old boy suffering major head trauma and flew him to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
He was declared dead at the hospital, the CHP said. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office, under which the coroner’s office operates, does not publicly release the identities of minors.
A 14-year-old boy was also taken to the hospital with “non-life threatening injuries,” the CHP said.
A GoFundMe created by the victim’s family identified the 15-year-old boy as Nathan Cavolt of Grass Valley, who died in a “tragic accident.”
Nathan was an outfielder for Bear River High School’s varsity baseball team, according to MaxPreps.
“Nathan was a tremendous young man and a spark plug as a part of the Bear River Baseball program,” the baseball team wrote on social media. “He had a tremendous smile, flowing hair, and always wore his signature puka shell necklace. We are going to miss him dearly.”
Organizers of the GoFundMe are seeking donations toward medical and funeral expenses. The online fundraising page had raised more than $70,000 toward a goal of $75,000 as of late Wednesday morning.
Drugs and alcohol are not factors in the crash investigation, the CHP said.
The investigation is still ongoing.
