The sanluisobispo.com website reported on November 9, 2008 that Michael Knodel, 24 from the town of Chowchilla was killed in an ATV accident while he was riding in the Oceano Dunes. Knodel was struck as he was riding his all-terrain vehicle by a truck according to the supervising park ranger. It appears that this is a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. As Knodel was heading east he was cresting a steep dune; when at that precise moment Robert Peterson, 22 was behind the wheel of the truck heading west colliding with Knodel just as he reached the summit of the dune.
When the first aid responders arrived they found Knodel unresponsive. Knodel was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene by a nurse who was flown in according to supervising ranger Mike Lack. The crash occurred at 1:30 p.m.. Knodel’s ATV was equipped with a “whip” antenna with a bright flag, a measure that was supposed to indicate his approach.
Peterson had no trace of alcohol use and was riding with two passengers but no one was hurt inside the truck. He was not cited by the police.
“If either one had been four seconds ahead or four seconds behind, they probably would not have collided,” Ranger Lack said. “All reports we got was that it was just an unfortunate accident.” This is the second death on the dunes this year, there were four last year. The Oceano Dunes are the only ones in California that permit off-road vehicles.
What was probably billed as a day of fun with friends and family turned into a tragic and sad day. It is hard to say whether or not this fatal ATV accident could have been prevented. An experienced ATV accident attorney might be able to re-create the specifics of the incident and help offer some sort of explanation for what has happened here. The wrongful death attorneys in Los Angeles at Panish, Shea, & Boyle specialize in dealing with tragic incidents such as this one. We know the questions to ask, and have the resources to investigate matters to a conclusion. If you or someone you love has been injured in a tragic accident, contact our offices at 1-866-992-1700 today for a free consultation of your case.
