WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — An eighth-grade boy died late Thursday night in an ATV accident in Washington County, authorities said.
According to state police, the accident happened just before midnight in the 400 block of Shipe Run Road in Amwell Township.
Family and friends of the victims told Channel 11's Cara Sapida that the evening started as a bonfire amongst friends. Anthony Maffio, 13, and Jax Stock, 16, then decided to go for a ride.
Sapida reported that Maffio and Stock were on the all-terrain vehicle when the driver hit a tree stump, causing him to lose control and hit a tree.
Both boys were thrown from the ATV. Maffio later died at Washington Hospital and Stock was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Stock is in fair condition.
Investigators said neither boy was wearing a helmet.
“My son called me at work and told me that there was an accident and Anthony had been killed,” neighbor Linda Shipe said. “This shouldn’t happen to young people.”
Maffio’s principal at Trinity Middle School, Pete Keruskia, said he was well-liked, had a lot of friends and will be greatly missed.
“Anthony was a great kid, well-liked by a lot of kids in this school. It’s a tragic loss for our district,” Keruskia said.
The school made counselors available on Friday for anyone who wanted.
“They’re a nice family and he was a nice boy. He had lots of friends. He had friends out here every weekend riding the quads and dirt bikes. He was your typical teenage boy,” one of Maffio’s neighbors said.