Three teens involved in ATV accident on Trigg Tower Rd. Tuesday evening

Three area teenagers, ranging in age from 13-15, narrowly escaped major injuries Tuesday evening when the driver of the ATV they were all riding on lost control and crashed in a wooded area near Shawnee National Forest.

The incident occurred a little before 6:00 p.m. August 4 near 1160 Trigg Tower Road in northeast Johnson County.

According to Johnson County chief deputy Jeff Jordan at the scene, witnesses reported that the ATV was traveling at a “high rate of speed” on the rural county road when the crash happened.

Witnesses also reported that the driver of the ATV, Nicole Duncan, swerved to miss an oncoming passenger car when she lost control the unit.

The ATV traveled several yards through a wooded area before coming to a stop.

All three riders were transported by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment of injuries.

Jordan’s preliminary report indicates the driver of the second vehicle was not involved in the crash.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, U.S. Forestry Law Enforcement and Johnson County Ambulance Service responded to the scene.

The incident remains under investigation by Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.