Mifflinburg girl seriously injured in West Buffalo Township ATV crash

A 13-year-old Mifflinburg girl was seriously injured Wednesday when she was thrown from an ATV on Reber Road in West Buffalo Township and struck the asphalt. Pennsylvania State Police said Life Flight took her to Geisinger Medical Center after the crash.

Police said the girl was riding as a passenger and was not wearing a helmet. The ATV was driven by a 15-year-old, and two other passengers, ages 9 and 10, were not injured.

The crash is a hard reminder of how quickly a routine ride can turn into a life-threatening emergency in rural Union County. The age mix on the ATV also puts the focus squarely on child safety, supervision and whether the vehicle was being used the way state rules allow.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says it is illegal to operate an ATV without a securely fastened helmet. The agency also says riders should wear eye protection and other protective clothing, and that passengers should not be carried on an ATV.

DCNR’s youth rules add another layer. Children ages 8 to 15 must take an ATV safety course and receive a certificate to ride on land that is not their parents’ or guardians’ property. The department also says ATV riders generally should be on private property with permission, on designated trails or in limited roadway situations, such as direct crossings or roads specifically designated for ATV use.

The township has seen a deadly ATV crash before. On March 24, 2025, a 10-year-old girl from Racine, Wisconsin, was killed on Red Bank Road in West Buffalo Township near Mifflinburg, underscoring how serious these crashes can be for children in the same part of Union County.

DCNR says ATV accidents that injure or kill someone, or cause more than $100 in damage, must be reported within seven days. For families around Mifflinburg and West Buffalo Township, Wednesday’s crash is another warning that helmet use, passenger limits and age-appropriate operation are not optional details.