Girl injured in quad bike fall

A 6-year-old girl has suffered a head injury after falling from a quad bike, just weeks after the Molly Vanner court case highlighted the dangers the vehicles pose to youngsters.

The child received a deep cut to her head after falling from the bike on Saturday afternoon. She was flown to Waikato Hospital, where a spokesman said she was improving after an operation.

The Herald understands the child was on a farm near Te Kuiti and riding on the back of a bike when she fell. Her family were not speaking to media yesterday.

Three weeks ago Federated Farmers sent out guidelines to farmers on the safe use of quad bikes. The seven-page document was sent after the acquittal of South Taranaki farmer Gavin Vanner on charges arising from the death of his daughter Molly, who Mr Vanner allowed to ride a quad bike on the family farm last August.

The guidelines recommend that children under 12 do not drive quad bikes and that youths aged between 12 and 15 ride the vehicles only if their guardian or employer deems them capable of doing so.

They also recommend that passengers are not carried on quad bikes, and if they need to be carried they should wear helmets and protective footwear.