An 18-year-old Sweet Home man died Friday afternoon when his all-terrain vehicle left the road and hit a tree in the forest near Sweet Home.
At approximately 4 p.m., Ryan David Hocking was riding a Polaris four-wheeled ATV on Cascade Timber Consulting property on the Ames Creek Main Line, a gravel logging road. Travis Smith, 20, of Sweet Home was riding with Hocking on another ATV.
The outing was Hocking’s first time riding in that area, and he was not familiar with the roads, Sheriff Tim Mueller said. The two were on their way out of the area, and Hocking was several minutes ahead of Smith.
Smith located skid marks in the gravel at a sharp curve, Mueller said. The marks led over an embankment. Smith noticed Hocking’s ATV about 60 feet down the embankment where it had come to rest on stumps and logs. Smith located Hocking nearby, in serious condition, and called 911.
Smith gave first-aid until personnel from the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District arrived. Medics were slightly delayed by a locked gate on the main line.
A Reach helicopter was activated and landed nearby, but Hocking died from his injuries before being transported by air, Mueller said.
Neither rider was wearing a helmet or protective gear, Mueller said. The crash remains under investigation.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel transported Hockings and is handling funeral arrangements.
According to information provided by the family to Sweet Home Funeral Chapel, Hockings recently moved to Sweet Home. He got a job at Entek International and quickly made friends.
“With his new friends and job, he was able to buy some new toys,” the family said. “He spent time customizing his new truck, playing his music loud and riding his quad.
“He enjoyed making people smile and loved his family, especially the time he spent hanging with his Grandpa, Butch ()Lawrence of Sweet Home).
“He recently told family members, ‘I am living a dream.’ Sweet Home had become his home.”