DANVILLE — An 11-year-old Danville girl seriously injured in an ATV accident last weekend is expected to make a full recovery, but authorities say the crash should serve as a warning about the dangers of riding recreational vehicles without helmets.

Fish and Game Conservation Officer Michael Matson said the girl remains hospitalized at Children's Hospital in Boston but should be released by the end of the week following Saturday's crash.

The girl was a passenger on a four-wheeler being operated by her 15-year-old friend from Manchester, neither of whom was wearing a helmet when the ATV struck a tree about a foot off a trail, Matson said.

The female operator suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from Parkland Medical Center in Derry.

Matson said the ATV was owned by the 11-year-old girl's neighbor, Steve Gerry of 80 Crestwood Drive in Danville. While it wasn't currently registered, it was registered under his name in the past, Matson said.

Matson said the girls were given permission by the owner to ride the vehicle and that he will likely faces several violations and possible fines.

Under state law, anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet and eye protection when operating an ATV. Passengers under 18 are required to wear a helmet.

“Had they been wearing a helmet the severe injuries would have been avoided,” Matson said.

State law also prohibits anyone under 18 from operating an ATV with a passenger.

Matson said other rules also were not followed.

Operators 12 and over must show proof of an approved safety education class or possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license. In this case, he said the teenager had not taken the course.

“Had she had the class she would have possessed the knowledge of the things she could not do,” Matson said.

Matson said the accident was likely caused by operator inexperience and distraction. He said the teenage operator may have been distracted by telling the younger girl to hold on tighter during the ride. However, he said authorities haven't been able to confirm the events leading up to the accident because both girls “have a poor memory of what happened.”

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Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.