By Cindy SwirkoSun staff writer
Published: Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 11:43 p.m.
A Williston toddler was killed Friday night when the utility all-terrain vehicle on which he was a passenger was driven into a water-filled rock pit north of Williston in Levy County, reported the Florida Highway Patrol.AC = -->
Dead is Aaron D. Ford, 3. He was found about three hours after the accident occurred on private property at about 10 p.m., according to an FHP press release.
The driver of the Polaris ATV was Michael J. Hoolihan, 51, of Williston. He received minor injuries, FHP stated.
According to the press release, the accident occurred on property at 5550 NE State Road 121, about one mile north of Williston.
Hoolihan was driving the Polaris ATV in an easterly direction when he failed to notice a rock pit filled with water. He drove into the water and dropped off an underwater ledge, flipping upside down, FHP reported.
Hoolihan swam to shore and tried unsuccessfully to locate Aaron. Hoolihan then went for help, said FHP.
Aaron was found several hours later by Levy County Sheriff’s Office dive team members Lt. Scott Finnen and Lt. Scott Tummond, said sheriff’s Capt. Evan Sullivan.
Hoolihan was a friend of Aaron’s family and lived near them on the property on which the accident occurred, said Aaron’s mom, Tracy Ford. Aaron called Hoolihan “Pops,” said Ford.
Aaron was a energetic boy who was about to turn four, Ford said. He loved mud-bogging and riding on the ATV.
“He was the most vibrant. He had the biggest blue eyes you’ve ever seen and the longest eyelashes ever. We were going to get pumpkins today and he was going to be Spiderman (for Halloween),” Ford said Saturday. “Oh, my God, riding on the ATV was his life. We did it every day. He was so loved. He was the most adventurous boy. He was so full of life.”
Hoolihan’s ATV was found about 20 to 25 feet from the shore with its tail end in the air. Aaron was not with the ATV so divers continued to search in the vicinity and found Aaron’s body a three to four feet away, Sullivan said.
The Polaris model has a front bench seat and a steering wheel on the left side. Sullivan said Aaron’s seat belt was not locked. Aaron was likely pitched over the front when the ATV went into the water, Sullivan said.
“One of our divers said there was about six inches of visibility because of the silt, and that was with a light. Your search is basically touch and feel,” Sullivan said. “Once we pulled the ATV out, we knew the child wasn’t there. We started a grid search and shortly thereafter found the child. It was grim for us. Very disappointing. Anytime you have a small child, it’s pretty tough.”
Sullivan said the Sheriff’s Office recently got a grant to provide ATV safety instruction. The particular Polaris involved in the accident is a utility ATV with a small bed in the back rather than the more common sport models.
ATV drivers should know the terrain if they are going to be out at night and should use an abundance of caution, Sullivan said.
“That was a pretty young age to have someone on an ATV, especially at nighttime,” Sullivan said.
No charges have been filed but the investigation is continuing, Sullivan said. A test to determine whether Hoolihan had been drinking was done, reported FHP.
Cindy Swirko can be reached at 374-5024 or at swirkoc@gvillesun.com.
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