MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) - Charges will not be filed in connection with an ATV crash in July that seriously injured three children in Becker county. An eight-year-old girl was driving the ATV with two younger cousins when they pulled out in front of a car.
Clay County Attorney Brian Melton was asked to examine the case because of a conflict of interest involving a relative of one of the victims. Melton says filing charges was not in the best interest of the children.
“The eight-year-old child and the two, four-year-old nieces would have been the primary witnesses and would have testified against the father” Melton said. “We believe the exercise of going through trial would have just exacerbated the physical and emotional injuries the children are currently recovering from.”
Melton says the eight-year-old girl's father could have faced felony child endangerment charges for allowing her to operate the ATV.
Melton also declined to file speeding charges against the driver of the car.