Published: September 21, 2008 02:35 am      

Mannington man injured in ATV accident

FAIRMONT — A Mannington man was flown by HealthNet helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown late Saturday afternoon after he lost control of his four-wheeler and was ejected 60 feet into a ditch on Plum Run.

James Cooper, 32, of Flaggy Meadow in Mannington, did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, said Deputy C. Gearde of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

“He was lucky he didn’t hit the blacktop,” Gearde said.

After Cooper lost control of the all-terrain vehicle, the ATV hit a culvert pipe and Cooper was ejected. Cooper went to the left of the road while the ATV followed behind, missing him, then crossed the road and ran into a barbed-wire fence. The ATV was not damaged, Gearde said.

Cooper was alone on the ATV, but was riding with a group of people, one of whom apparently called 911 after the accident at about 5:03 p.m.

Plum Run is a public road that is about one and a half lanes wide. Cooper was not in a hilly area, but the road is winding, Gearde said.

“It was brand new blacktop,” he added.

“They shouldn’t be on the roadway. I think they should change the laws. Off-road vehicles are not made for the roadways.”

Cooper was admitted to Ruby Memorial, where he is listed in fair condition.

In addition to the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department and the Marion County Rescue Squad also responded to the accident.

Cooper’s fall also was cushioned by the helmet that he was wearing, Gearde said, although it apparently came off during the incident.

When Gearde arrived at the scene, Cooper was moving his feet around and although he appeared to be unconscious, he mumbled and blinked his eyes.

“He has possible head trauma where the head hit,” Gearde said.

E-mail Mary Wade Burnside at mwburnside@timeswv.com.