A teenage girl died in an off-road crash in Cane Beds, Arizona, on June 25, marking the sixth fatality in side-by-side vehicle incidents in 2025.
At approximately 8 p.m., deputies responded to reports of a crash on private property near the Arizona-Utah border. Upon arrival, they found an unidentified 13-year-old girl who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators determined that two underage girls were operating a side-by-side off-road vehicle when the driver began performing donuts while the passenger leaned out. The vehicle overturned after a sharp turn, trapping the passenger. The driver attempted to lift the vehicle off her friend before running approximately a quarter-mile for help due to poor cell service.
Authorities noted that neither occupant appeared to have used safety equipment. The Mohave County Attorney's Office will review potential charges as the investigation continues.
Off-Road Fatalities in Arizona
This incident follows several other fatal crashes involving off-road vehicles in the state. On June 22, Miguel A. Pacheco crashed a vehicle with three minors onboard, resulting in the death of an unrestrained 19-month-old child, with additional injuries to two others.
In April, a rollover accident in Greenlee County caused the deaths of two sisters, ages 4 and 10, when their vehicle submerged in water. Earlier in February, two teenagers died after their side-by-side vehicle fell down an embankment in Phoenix.
Legal Requirements for Off-Road Vehicles
Arizona law mandates helmets for underage drivers and passengers of off-road vehicles, and starting in late 2024, operators must complete an online safety course. Adults are encouraged to wear helmets but are not legally required to do so.