Officers with the West Virginia Natural Resources Police were called to a deadly 4-wheeler accident on the Hatfield-McCoy Trail on Saturday, April 16, 2016.  It happened at around 11 a.m. on Trail 82  of the Pocahontas Trail System in Mercer County.

Robert Mahoney, 65, of Newton, NC was riding on the trail which is considered to be one of more difficult in the area.  Trails are classified with colors similar to snow ski runs.  Trail 82 is classified as a “black” trail.  Officers with the Natural Resources Police said Mahoney was going up a steep grade with a rock shelf.  When the ATV hit the shelf, the front of the 4-wheeler jumped and then momentum forced it to roll over backwards on top of the victim.

Investigators said this appeared to be an accident.  Mahoney was an experienced rider and officers say there was no indication that alcohol was involved in the accident.