A 3-year-old Highland County boy died Saturday as the result of an ATV accident.

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera said officers were dispatched to a Paint Township residence at 6:55 p.m. Saturday along with Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District personnel.

Upon investigation it was found that the 3-year-old child had been sitting on the front seat of a Ranger utility ATV while it was running, Barrera said.

According to the sheriff, a family member that was present was attempting to turn off the Ranger utility ATV at the same time the child was attempting to exit the ATV. The child accidentally stepped on the gas pedal, which caused the ATV to accelerate. The Ranger utility ATV then traveled out of a barn and struck a tree, pinning the child between the seat and the dashboard of the ATV.

Barrera said the child was driven by private ambulance to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with severe head trauma and later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

The Highland County Sheriffs Office said it has ruled the incident to be an accident.

For general questions or clarification, contact Barrera at 937-393-1421. The Crime Tip Hotline for the sheriff’s office is 937-940-6243.

Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.