The chief of the Whitbourne fire department is calling attention to what he calls an “out of hand” problem involving ATV riders in the community.

The conversation was spurred by an accident that happened over the weekend. Jamie Budden was heading to the scene of an ATV accident—which sent one youth to hospital. As he was driving with his emergency lights on, another ATV cut him off and passed him, proceeding to pass several other vehicles before disappearing into the night.

For Budden, that incident represents a persistent problem, which mostly occurs on the weekend: people are using the roads in the town as a “racetrack.”

According to Budden, the problem involves people of all ages, but right now they’re having a real problem with young people.

He says in the last year they have responded to four or five ATV accidents, and they have had fatalities. He’s growing frustrated as it’s now affecting their ability to respond to calls.