1 Dies in ATV Crash At Badlands-Area Abandoned Golf Course

MORENO VALLEY, CA— Three people were injured, and a fourth died in an all-terrain vehicle crash at a Badlands area abandoned golf course Saturday, the California Highway Patrol said Monday.

CHP Officer Ricardo Palomera said the victim, whose identity was not immediately released, was "joyriding with friends" in the abandoned Quail Ranch Golf Club at 15960 Gilman Springs Road, near Mystic Lake. "He was driving his four-seat quad at approximately 40 to 50 mph" with three passengers, when the vehicle "hit a dirt berm."

"(The ATV) was launched into the air and came down on its front end, then overturned several times," Palomera said. "The unrestrained driver was partially pinned under the vehicle as it came to rest on the driver's side."

One of the passengers managed to pull the driver out and initiate CPR while one of the other parties called 911, according to the CHP.

Riverside County Fire Department crews reached the location a short time later and took over resuscitative measures, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Palomera said that, like the victim, two of the passengers, whose identities were not disclosed, were not wearing safety restraints.

They both complained of pain but declined to be transported to a hospital for further evaluation. The third passenger, identified only as a girl, was wearing a restraint but suffered minor injuries. She was taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment and has since been released.

It was not immediately known if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, Palomera said. An autopsy was pending on the driver on Monday.