Why have a spate of dune buggy accidents occurred on the Oregon coast?”
When ambulances speed past Dune Country ATV Rentals, manager Jeremey Noel fears — even assumes — that another dune buggy rider came to grief in the steep sand hills at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. “It’s getting up to the season where at least once a day, we hear the ambulance, or somebody comes running to us or to the store to call 911,” said Noel. As summer heats up, visitors flock to ride all-terrain vehicles in the steepest dunes on the Oregon coast. More riders mean more injuries, but officials say it doesn’t have to be that way. “The biggest problem is people riding over their abilities,” said Sgt. Scott Fray with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at the county’s dunes rescue building. “The four-wheelers are getting bigger every year.” Safety officials say smaller or inexperienced riders should stick with smaller machines. At Noel’s shop riders must be at least 12 to rent a 90cc ATV, at least 16 for a 250cc and at least 40 for a 400cc. But in general, experience is con
