Authorities are investigating a fatal ATV crash that happened on the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area on Suck Creek Mountain.

It happened Saturday, July 4th around 12:30 pm according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Dan Hicks. Hicks said that a father & son from Chattanooga were riding a single ATV... the father was operating the ATV with his 12-year-old son riding behind him.

The father apparently lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway and hit a tree.

The 12-year-old was killed in spite of the fact that he was wearing a helmet.

Hicks didn't know if the father was wearing a helmet or not. He suffered leg injuries and is currently hospitalized at Erlanger.

TWRA has not released the names of the victims.