Delores L. Walker, Free Press Reporter

Madeline Hembree celebrated her 11th birthday Sunday, April 25 and according to witnesses at the crash scene she and two other friends, 12-year-old Whitney Shows and Zoie Walker, age 13 came very close to a tragic end.



According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper Leon Gill’s report, Hembree was operating a TRX350E Honda All-Terrain -Vehicle on private property near Candy Lane in east Lafayette County. Hembree told Gill that Shows and Walker were also on board the ATV when she came off the private property and attempted to make a right turn on Candy Lane. Mayo resident Adeniyi Aderibigbe was traveling west on Candy Lane in a car when the ATV darted out of the private trail onto the roadway. Gill’s report states that Aderibigbe did not see the ATV due to the vegetation that grows near the roadway and was unable to avoid crashing into the ATV. Gill said Aderibigbe applied his brake but the ATV struck the right front of his car. The girls were ejected from the ATV on impact and the car traveled approximately 69 feet before coming to a final stop.



The 911 call was made by a resident that lives close to the scene of the crash. Lafayette EMS, Deputy Scott Hamlin and Deputy Marlon Padgett arrived at the scene where EMS administered life-saving measures before transporting the victims to Lafayette Elementary School. Shows was airlifted by TraumaOne to Shands at Jacksonville. Hembree and Walker were taken to Shands at Live Oak by Lafayette EMS and later taken to Shands at Gainesville.



“I cannot stress strongly enough to parents the danger of operating an ATV without head and eye gear for protection,” said Gill. Also, said Gill, “Anyone operating an ATV needs to know that Florida law prohibits ATVs on public roadways, including the shoulder and ditches. A good rule of thumb to remember so that you can operate an ATV legally is to stay behind the power poles that are normally put on the property line of the landowner.”



Gill stressed that the safety warnings are put on the ATVs for your protection and should be heeded.



Madeline Hembree is charged with failure to yield (Florida Statute 316.125.1) and Improper operation of an ATV (Florida Statute 316.2074.5). Aderibigbe is not charged.



According to family members Hembree remains at Shands at Gainesville after undergoing surgery on her foot. Walker is home after surgery to repair injuries, also to her foot, and Shows is improving from head wounds sustained during the accident.