A 67-year-old Linden man died Saturday afternoon after his dirt bike collided with a side-by-side off-road vehicle on an ATV trail system near Mancelona in Antrim County. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. and the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to WJRT ABC12, the Antrim County Sheriff's Office said the dirt bike rider entered the path of an approaching side-by-side vehicle, and the dirt bike struck the oncoming machine. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash, per the same account. The side-by-side was operated by a 58-year-old man from Mount Clemens, who struck the dirt bike after the Linden rider entered his path, according to an Antrim County Sheriff's Office statement reported by UpNorthLive.
An off-duty firefighter who happened upon the scene immediately began administering lifesaving measures to the injured rider before emergency crews arrived, UpNorthLive reported. Emergency medical personnel and deputies from the Antrim County Sheriff's Office were assisted at the remote trail site by troopers from the Michigan State Police, officers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Otsego County Fire Department, the outlet's report noted.
A Trail System Built for Mixed Traffic
The crash site is on an off-road trail. The DNR's Ride Right safety guidance instructs riders to stay to the right, control their speed on blind curves, and remain alert for oncoming vehicles.
It is not the first fatal off-road crash investigators in the township have handled. Antrim County emergency crews previously investigated a fatal snowmobile crash in Mancelona Township in February 2025, according to a report from UpNorthLive, underscoring recurring safety concerns on the area's winter and summer trail systems alike.
Michigan's Helmet and Licensing Rules
Under Michigan law, ORV operators and passengers must wear USDOT-approved crash helmets and protective eyewear, according to the Sinas Dramis Law Firm; Black River Law describes an exception for an ORV with a roof, roll cage, and seatbelts. State regulations also require all ORVs operating on Michigan public lands to carry an annual $26.25 DNR license plus a $10 trail permit for riding on designated state motorized trails, per the Black River Law PLLC.
State data adds grim context to crashes like Saturday's. The Michigan DNR determined that 93 percent of ORV fatalities statewide in 2023 were preventable through proper safety practices, speed control, and defensive trail riding, according to Mi-TRALE.
