BEN HILL COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — Two teens were life-flighted, and a 64-year-old driver was hospitalized on Wednesday, April 8, after a side-by-side crashed into a Ford Explorer around 7 p.m. in Ben Hill County. The teens were not wearing their seatbelts, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

>> READ MORE: Side-by-side versus SUV crash in Ben Hill County sends 3 to the hospital <<

The crash has sparked safety concerns from the community.

Registration and regulations

Ben Hill County Sheriff Lee Cone said the county allows side-by-side vehicles on roads as long as riders follow the law.

“Each county has, you can actually authorize, you know, the usage of them and, you know, you get registered with a tag, etc. And Ben Hill County has, you know, actually has authorized this to do so. Every county pretty much has. It’s just different procedures you go through... We encourage them to, you know, follow the laws,” Cone said.

Cone said he was surprised when he heard about the crash.

“It was a little stunning. I mean, it surprised me when I heard about it. So, mainly just checking out, making sure everybody was okay. Everybody that was involved being okay... It’s always tragic when anybody gets an accident, but, you just have to, you know, just encourage everybody to be careful, follow the rules and just, you know, be aware of what’s around you,” Cone said.

Thomas Yager, a safety consultant for ATVs and recreational vehicles, said protective gear and training are important.

“First, just be sure that you’re outfitted with all the protective gear. Take advantage of training and, it’s the best, best way to learn. It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘ultimate test drive,’” Yager said.

Yager also said riders should follow traffic laws and use reflective gear when riding at night to help other drivers see them.

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