(BUTLER) – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that claimed the life of the operator.
The accident occurred Saturday at approximately 12:47 p.m. near the 2200 block of State Road 1.
Responding officers have determined that a side-by-side off-road vehicle (ORV) being operated by 68-year-old Michael Slentz, of Butler was traveling southbound, adjacent to the roadway on the west side of State Road 1. He then attempted to cross the roadway to the east and crossed into the path of a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am operated by a juvenile female. The female was unable to avoid the collision and struck the ORV on the right side, ejecting Slentz from the ORV.
Slentz suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The juvenile female was not injured.
No seatbelts were utilized in the ORV and no helmet or protective riding gear was being worn by Slentz.
Indiana Conservation Officers are assisting the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police with the investigation.
The Butler Police Department, Butler Fire Department, Parkview DeKalb EMS, and DeKalb County Coroner’s office also assisted at the scene.
