THE death of a man crushed by his quad bike at Quorrobolong following a string of similar accidents has heightened doctors' concerns about the vehicles' safety.
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The 42-year-old died on Saturday, a day after a man, 54, thrown from a quad near Wingen suffered face and chest wounds.
A 28-year-old man broke his arm in another quad accident near Williamtown on New Year's Eve.
The latest crash happened about 10.45pm at the Mayumarri property off Coney Creek Lane.
The vehicle was found rolled, and the man crushed underneath. He had died when police and paramedics arrived.
Central Hunter Police Inspector Joanne Schultz said yesterday there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances, but alcohol was thought to be a factor.
It is believed the man had been drinking before riding the all-terrain vehicle.
John Hunter Hospital emergency staff specialist Dr Mark Lee called quads more dangerous than motorbikes.
"When people ride motorbikes they gear up and protect themselves, but they see quad bikes as more of a toy," Dr Lee said.
"People tend to be blase and laid-back [about quad safety]. They're nasty things."
He said there may be more acceptance of drinking and riding quads than motorbikes.
"I'm not sure how you make them safer, but it might be nice to tighten the regulations on licencing and age restrictions," he said.
Quads can not be ridden on NSW roads but are widely used by children and teenagers on rural properties.
A girl, 11, was killed last February after being thrown from a quad that flipped at a farm near Taree.
Detectives and specialist forensics officers examined the Quorrobolong crash site and the quad was taken for mechanical inspection.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner.