After two deaths this year, some parents are questioning the
safety of Hollister Hills, the popular off-road recreation area six
miles south of town, and say they won’t send their kids to the park
until they are sure the necessary precautions are in place.
Hollister–After two deaths this year, some parents are questioning the safety of Hollister Hills, the popular off-road recreation area six miles south of town, and say they won’t send their kids to the park until they are sure the necessary precautions are in place.
The park has been a mainstay of the community for close to 30 years – since Howard Harris, a local landowner donated the land to the state. On weekends, it swarms with young and old alike who ride motorcycles and other All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) over some 6,600 acres of trails that vary from basic trails to more technical narrow courses that twist and turn through the hills.
Over the course of a weekend, close to 1,000 visitors stream through the park, while enforcement volunteers and park rangers are on patrol to make sure all the rules are followed. On any given day, an average of three park rangers are on duty to ensure that riders are wearing helmets, obeying the speed limit and have spark arrestors on their bikes to prevent explosions in case there is an accident.
Since 2000, five people have died at the park, including two this year, and many more injured in accidents, according to Lieutenant Mary Pass, assistant district superintendent at Hollister Hills.
But laying the blame on the park is unfair and overlooks the real reason behind the recent deaths, said Lt. Pass.
“People don’t realize their skill level is not high and just get on the course and start doing things they see on TV,” she said. “That’s when accidents happen.”
Off-roading is an extreme sport and as dangerous as skiing, surfing or diving, Pass said. She also attributes the accidents to kids’ immaturity and parents who don’t do enough to educate their children about the proper etiquette and safety requirements of the course.
Despite the fatal accidents, Hollister Hills has seen a 10 percent rise attendance in the past year, with nearly 180,000 people coming through during that time.
Still, parents say the park needs to do more to let them know of the risks involved so they can pass the information on to their children.
“Certainly five deaths is tragic,” said Jeff Kemper, a San Jose resident who has visited Hollister Hills on numerous occasions. “But parents have no information about that at all.”
Kemper says he would like to see the information about the rate of accidents readily available in order to make an accurate asessement of the safety of the sport.
The park provides detailed maps which have the rules and restrictions listed on them, as well as posted signs around the trails. However, once park-goers pay the $4 day use fee, the park has little control over what they do. A group of volunteer rangers patrol the courses, but the area is so vast, they can’t be everywhere at once, said Pass.
That is why the park recommends people ride together, wear helmets and other protective gear and don’t attempt courses that are too difficult for them.
Others say the recent deaths can be attributed to the increased popularity of the park and trails that are now so crowded, they create more danger for all concerned.
“If you come here on the weekend, you’re lucky to find a parking space,” said Greg Pritchard, who lives in Alameda and comes to Hollister Hills a couple of times a year. “Throw in some teenagers who don’t know what they are doing and you’ve got recipe for disaster.”
Both of this year’s deaths occurred on the weekend and were the result of blunt trauma, according to San Benito County Sheriff’s Department. Both riders were under 17.
Pritchard has taken his 14-year-old son to the park, but said the trails were so congested after rains had closed half of the park, he didn’t feel safe riding around. His son hasn’t returned since.
California State Parks and its Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, which manages and oversees the park, have begun a program to train 10- to 16-year-olds in safe riding techniques. While the program is offered at Hollister Hills, it is not a requirement and it is not known how many who come to the park ever take it.
Hollister Hills’ staff know the dangers of off-roading and they are prepared for accidents big and small. All rangers are trained in emergency response and their office is equipped with oxygen tanks, stretchers for moving people after falls, bandages and equipment for respiratory and cardiac failures.
When an accident occurs, rangers are called to the location on either motorcycles, quads or four-wheel drives to stabilize the patient and then move them to the office to be handed off to an ambulance service or a helicopter. The process can take as little as five minutes or as long as 30, but it is significantly delayed if someone is riding alone and can’t phone in their accident on a cell phone.
“Obviously, if someone is riding alone in one of the far trails and has an accident, it could be a while before they are found,” said Pass.
That leaves parents like Jeff Kemper guessing about whether to send their kids to Hollister Hills or perhaps find something else to do on the weekends.
“None of my family members will be riding anytime soon,” he said. “But I guess people can make their own decisions as long as they know what they’re getting themselves involved in.”
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
