Friend of Alabama man killed in ATV crash speaks out

DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — A deadly ATV crash that left a Dothan man dead over the weekend at a Holmes County adventure park is one that the park said has never happened before.

That crash occurred in Holmes County at the Mudd’n 185 Off Road Adventure Park on Sunday afternoon.

The owner of the park, Paul Vann, said this was a first since the park opened six years ago. Vann is also a friend of the man who died in the crash.

“Nobody wants to see it no place,” Vann said. “Just a bad thing for everybody.”

A group of Wiregrass residents decided to go off-roading on the 24 miles of trail at the park Sunday afternoon after rain rolled through the area early that morning.

“A good guy. A good group,” Vann said. “You know they don’t haul butt on the trail. They ride responsibly like they are supposed to.”

During the ride, the crew was taking it slow riding the muddy terrain when the man from Dothan went into a rut filled with water, with his driver-side wheel at an awkward angle and his buggy overturning, submerging the man in water.

“The guy had a freak accident,” Vann said. “They tried all they could to try and help him but in the long run, couldn’t do it.”

Ambulances later arrived, pulled him out of the water and tried to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s fiancée was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash but wasn’t injured. Officials said they were wearing seatbelts.

The Florida Highway Patrol does not release the names of victims. WDHN reached out to authorities in Holmes County for more information.

Vann said he is thankful for the response time by first responders to the accident and hopes that this kind of freak accident doesn’t happen again at this park.