16-Year-old Killed in ATV Accident

UPDATED (7:05 a.m.)—A 16-year-old Aberdeen High School student died Wednesday night after an accident on a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle in the 2400 block of Old Robin Hood Road in Havre de Grace, authorities said.

Tyler Lee Hickman of the 1900 block of Bennett Road in Perryman was found just after 8 p.m. Wednesday “lying face down on the ground at the bottom of a rock-layered hill," Harford County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Monica Worrell said in a prepared statement.

Harford County Sheriff’s deputies and the Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Hickman had been operating a red Honda three-wheel ATV while visiting the home of a relative, authorities said.

“He lost control of the vehicle, which struck a large pine tree,” said Worrell. “Hickman landed in a rock layered embankment approximately 10 (feet)-15 (feet) away from the tree.”

Hickman had apparently hit his head and subsequently went into a seizure, according to Worrell's statement. 

“When deputies arrived at the scene, Hickman was in a semi-conscious state, but was able to verbally provide the deputy his name,” Worrell said. “He had suffered a large laceration to the rear of his head.”

Worrell said in the statement, “In the area where Hickman was located were several medium sized rocks and a tree branch that were blood stained.”

Hickman’s feet were oriented to a large tree with a chunk of bark missing and his head was oriented towards the driveway, authorities said.

“Deputies did not observe a helmet near the victim or the surrounding area,” Worrell said.

Authorities attempted to fly Hickman to Maryland Shock Trauma by state police helicopter, but could not because of inclement weather. Instead, Hickman was taken to Harford Memorial Hospital for treatment. Hickman was pronounced dead by physicians there at 9:25 p.m., authorities said.

A neighbor, who saw the accident, told Patch he made the 9-1-1 call that he thought would save Hickman’s life.

“We thought we helped him,” said the neighbor, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Tim. “We thought we saved him.”

Tim said he heard the ATV's motor, looked outside and saw Hickman coming down the private road leading to and from the secluded community that consists of a farm, single-family houses and a few other properties. The neighbor said Hickman’s ATV started wobbling before he hit the curb and was thrown from the three-wheeler.

“We went down there,” Tim said. “It’s rocks all the way down.”

By 7 p.m. Thursday spring flowers had been planted under the tree where Hickman landed. Online, a memorial Facebook page called "R.I.P Tyler Lee Hickman" had attracted more than 500 "likes" by Friday.

"Fly high man, your always loved and never forgotten ... Even though your gone you will always be in peoples heart," states the info section of the Facebook page.

Tim said he collected the damaged three-wheeler Wednesday night and started putting it back together on Thursday. A woman with Tim, who identified herself only as Shannitta, described Hickman as “very outgoing.”

Both Tim and Shannitta said they were saddened to learn of Hickman's death. 

“He was a very nice guy,”  Tim said.