By John Summers | WBR Independent | February 28, 2026

BRUSLY — Two juvenile riders were transported to a local hospital with moderate to severe injuries Saturday morning after an ATV crash behind the levee near St. John the Baptist Church in Brusly — and Brusly Police Chief Jonathan Lefeaux says the incident highlights an ongoing problem that has frustrated law enforcement, landowners, and farmers for years.

Brusly Police Officers were dispatched to the area at approximately 10:00 a.m. after reports of the crash, according to the Brusly Police Department. Preliminary information indicates the ATV flipped multiple times. The West Baton Rouge Fire Department and emergency medical personnel responded and provided medical care on scene before transporting both patients to a local hospital.

The condition of the two juveniles has not been updated as of publication.

An Ongoing Problem

In a phone conversation with WBR Independent Saturday, Chief Lefeaux said the crash is part of a much larger issue the department has been dealing with for years — juveniles riding ATVs and dirt bikes on private property without permission and on public roads.

The property behind the levee is not public land. It is owned by multiple private landowners, and Lefeaux said those landowners have come to the department wanting enforcement action.

"The landowners have come to us wanting us to start enforcing this. They want to press charges," Lefeaux said. "They're tired of their property being torn up. And many times they're liable if someone gets hurt on their land, and they do not want to deal with that in court."

Lefeaux said the department has been stepping up enforcement efforts since before hunting season to keep people off private property and ensure public safety. The problem extends beyond the levee — cane farmers, hunting clubs, and property owners across the area have all voiced frustrations about unauthorized ATV and dirt bike use tearing up their land.

A Message to Parents

Lefeaux said the responsibility ultimately falls on parents to know where their children are riding.

"If you don't have a set place already figured out where your kids can go legally ride these things, don't even buy it for them," Lefeaux said. "There's no public land around here that they should be riding on. The cane farmers are tired of it. The hunting club people are tired of it. All the people on the levees are tired of it."

He also noted a difficult reality for officers: when police attempt to stop juvenile riders, many take off running, creating the potential for a dangerous pursuit.

"When we try to stop them, they take off running, so then we don't want to end up pursuing someone's kids and causing a horrendous accident," Lefeaux said. "It's very hard to enforce and we need the parents' assistance to keep the kids off of the road."

What the Law Says

Under Louisiana law, ATVs are classified as off-road vehicles and cannot be registered for public road use (Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252). Their operation on public roads and highways is generally prohibited, with narrow exceptions for farm-related activities within a five-mile radius of a farmer's property (Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:299).

Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:417 makes it unlawful to cause or knowingly permit a minor under the age of 17 to drive a motor vehicle on any public road or highway without a license. Parents or legal custodians who allow an unlicensed minor to operate a motor vehicle on a public road can face charges of improper supervision of a minor under Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:92.2 if serious bodily injury or death results.

Riders who are caught operating off-road vehicles recklessly on public roadways can face criminal charges under Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:298, which can include seizure and impoundment of the vehicle.

Lefeaux said he hopes parents will educate their children and exercise common sense when it comes to off-road vehicles, and urged guardians to be mindful of where their children are riding, ensure they know their planned location, and confirm they have legal permission to ride on any property before allowing them to do so.

This is a developing story. WBR Independent will provide updates as more information becomes available.