Cedar City » A 5-year-old Beryl girl is recovering from injuries she received when the all-terrain vehicle she was riding with four other girls hit a tree. Police said Monday they will have the case screened for possible negligence charges.

Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower said his office was still investigating Wednesday's crash of the Yamaha Rhino, an ATV that drives like a small truck with a bed and roll bar.

Gower said the girls were riding on a private ranch in the rural residential community 40 miles west of Cedar City when the 9-year-old driver apparently got going too fast and hit a tree.

"The force of the wreck broke the bolts holding the seat," said Gower.

The girls range in age from 5 to 9, and none was wearing a seat belt or helmet, according to Gower. He did not know if they were related.

He said the 5-year-old victim, Avalon Carlisle, suffered head trauma from the roll bar and was later flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where a spokeswoman said she was in good condition on Monday.

The other three victims, who suffered minor injuries, had been taken to private homes and Gower said deputies had to track them down. All five girls were eventually taken to Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City. Tjhe Carlisle girl was then transferred to Primary Children's.

He said a second victim was admitted to Valley View, but her condition was unknown Monday.

Gower said investigators were told the girls took the vehicle on their own. While that was still under investigation, he said the youngsters should have been kept from driving the vehicle. "It was negligent and charges could be filed against whoever allowed it or allowed them to continue riding."

He said the owner of the Rhino lives in Colorado City, Ariz., and was not present when the accident occurred.

Ann Evans, off-highway vehicle coordinator for the Utah Division of State Parks, said it is illegal for anyone younger than 8 to drive an ATV on public lands.

Children from 8 to 15 years can only operate an ATV on public lands with a certificate from the state's Know Before You Go safety course. Those 16 and older must have a valid driver license or a certificate.

Evans said the law applies only to riding on public lands and not private property.

She said one disturbing trend she is seeing at popular ATV locations like Little Sahara Recreation Area is mothers riding with babies nestled in chest carriers. That practice is dangerous for infants because of the risk of brain damage.

"Neither do the babies have helmets," she said, "because they don't even make them that small, for obvious reasons."

mhavnes@sltrib.com