MERRIMACK – With the throttle on his ATV stuck at top speed, Kenneth Eaton, 48, of Merrimack, had no choice but to jump off.

It was a risky move as a Polaris ATV, one of the more popular models, tops out at about 65 miles per hour.

According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the crash occurred on private property in Merrimack on May 22 at approximately 5:45 p.m. The exact location has not been released.

Eaton was taken by ambulance to Elliot Hospital in Manchester to be treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The extent of his injuries and his current condition have not been released.

According to the Fish and Game Department, a mechanical failure caused the throttle to get stuck. Eaton was also not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Conservation officials later discovered that Eaton’s driver’s license had been suspended. Therefore, he was issued a summons for operating an OHRV with a suspended driver’s license.

No additional information was available as the crash remains under investigation.

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