A Prescott woman was killed this week in an ATV accident.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday, Kimberly Kapp, was involved in a single vehicle ATV rollover accident near S. Big Bug Mesa in Mayer. At approximately 4:30 p.m. the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office received two calls regarding an accident involving a Polaris side by side ATV. One call was from the victim’s wife and the other from a man who reported that there were also two young children in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
A passerby and his wife who arrived at the accident shortly after it occurred used 2×4 boards to lift the ATV and pull the victim out from under the vehicle. YCSO deputies, Walker Fire Department and Lifeline Ambulance responded to the scene and attempted to stabilize the female victim for transport to the hospital.
It appeared that Kapp, age 40, had serious internal injuries and a Medical Air Evacuation was called to nearby Walker Fire Department. Though medical crews tried to keep the victim stabilized, she succumbed to her injuries at the Yavapai County Regional Medical Center-West, where she was pronounced dead at 6:30 p.m.
The children – 4 and 1 year old – were not injured and were taken home by family members.
YCSO deputies’ initial investigation suggests the victim possibly lost control and began to skid to the other side of the road after hitting debris. It also appeared that victim may have over corrected the vehicle, which cause it to overturn and land on the driver side, pinning the victim.
There was no evidence of any impairment, however it appeared that the victim was not using a seatbelt nor wearing a helmet or other safety devices. The two children, who were in car seats strapped to the back of the ATV, were also not wearing helmets. Though the children were uninjured, it was determined that the car seats were improperly installed and secured in the vehicle. “The children were very lucky, and it was only luck that saved them” said Sgt. Michael Lewis, Training/Traffic Enforcement Section for YCSO, who also one of the deputies on scene with the victim.
“This is an unbelievably sad story with a woman losing her life and two young children losing their mother” said Sheriff David Rhodes. “It is a terrible way to remind our residents to please slow down, wear seatbelts and helmets when applicable, and to utilize the services that can help you properly install car seats. We hope together we can prevent the heartbreak that this victim’s family is feeling from happening to others.”