A 10-year-old girl died Saturday after the all-terrain vehicle she was riding lost control and tumbled over a ravine.

The accident occurred on private land on Ringneck Trail, located off Bull Swamp Road in Calhoun County, just before 2 p.m. Saturday, and by the time emergency officials arrived on the scene 10 minutes later, Allyson Morgan Ayers was unresponsive, according to Calhoun County Coroner Donnie Porth.

Porth said Ayers, of 3756 Homestead Road, Bowman, was riding on the back of the ATV driven by her 13-year-old brother when they got to close to a 13-foot ravine and lost control. He said at some point, the two children and the vehicle landed at the bottom of the ravine, with the four-wheeler striking Ayers.

Porth said he is unsure whether the ATV kept rolling after it struck the victim or whether it was pulled off of her.

Ayers was transported by Calhoun County EMS to the Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, Porth said. The cause of death was massive head trauma, and neither child was wearing a helmet, he said. Ayers’ brother received minor injuries and was treated at the hospital, Porth said.

“I believe that’s the first (four-wheeler) fatality I’ve had in the 11 years I have been coroner,” he said. “I have heard of accidents with injuries, but I believe that’s the first fatality.”

Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.

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