A 16-year-old Northfield boy was killed Tuesday night in an ATV accident, police said Wednesday.

Dale Krause suffered a fatal head injury after slamming into an oak tree in the woods in the Scullville section of Egg Harbor Township. He was riding at what police described as a "high rate of speed" when he lost control of his dirtbike at a slight bend in Asbury Avenue, a dirt road behind Hidden Creek Golf Course, according to a police statement.

Atlantic County Medical Examiner's Office Investigator Louise Houseman pronounced Krause dead at the scene.

He was wearing a helmet and other protective riding gear, including goggles, gloves, a chest protector and off-road boots, police said.

John Taggart, 19, and Jonathan Cummings, 18, both also of Northfield, had each driven a quad along with Krause until he sped away from them just before the accident.

Neither Taggart nor Cummings had a cell phone, so after the crash, one stayed with Krause while the other left to get help, investigating Officer Kevin Devlin said.

None of the young men had obtained the written permission local law requires to ride on private or public property, Devlin said.

Hamilton Township police fielded the initial 911 call at 7:39 p.m. and responded to the scene, along with Scullville Volunteer Fire Company and Egg Harbor Township police.
Krause's family declined comment Wednesday. Taggart did not return a phone message and Cummings was unreachable.