Darwin Award Nominee (cont)

Police: Legally Blind Man Killed While Driving ATV

COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio -- Police said a local man, who was diagnosed as legally blind, died after crashing his all-terrain vehicle in Columbiana County.

The crash happened on Sunday evening just south of Lisbon on Steubenville Pike Road.

Columbiana County sheriff’s Deputies told NEWS9 that Charles Hoyle, 34, of Boardman was hanging out with friends when he made the decision that ended his life.

Chief Deputy Allen Haueter said Hoyle was with two friends behind a home on Steubenville Pike when he asked one of his friends if he could ride his ATV.

But Haueter said Hoyle didn’t have a license to drive, and that he was considered legally blind.

Haueter told NEWS9 the men helped Hoyle onto the ATV anyways and warned him to go slow, but Hoyle didn't listen.

“When the men put Mr. Hoyle on there, he took off, full acceleration,” said Haueter. “And they were screaming at him to hold back and stop, and they couldn't catch up to him. Then he struck a smaller tree and he hit a larger one head-on.”

Deputies said Hoyle was thrown from the ATV, and died of a head injury on scene.
Haueter also said Hoyle's friends admitted they all had been drinking prior to the accident.
“They advised they'd been drinking but they weren't at a point of no return,” said Haueter. "It shouldn't have happened. It's a tragic accident."

While Hoyle was considered legally blind, he did at one point have a driver’s license, but Haueter said that license expired in 2000.

Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9