A 12-year-old boy is dead following an ATV crash on a private property in the 2300 block of Walton Road in Niles Township, according to a press release by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Lieutenant Steve Campbell, of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the boy has been identified as Dawson Lee Eliason, of Niles.

Eliason would have been a student at Buchanan Middle School.

Buchanan Community Schools Supt. Andrea van der Laan said that counseling would be provided to students and staff.

The press is being asked to stay away from the school, van der Laan said, in order to bring as much normalcy as possible to the students and staff.

Tuesday is the first day of school for public school students across the state.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, rescue workers responded to a call at approximately 3:20 p.m. Sunday. The boy was reportedly riding a Yamaha Kodiak ATV when it struck a parked vehicle, at which time the boy was ejected from the ATV.

According to Campbell, the victim was riding the vehicle alone on his family’s property. After the victim was tardy returning home, the family went out to look for him.

Campbell said a family member found the victim had struck a vehicle parked in a field on the property.

A witness told police that the ATV was resting on top of the 12-year-old driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the driver was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Campbell said alcohol and drug use were highly unlikely due to the victim’s age.

Campbell said police are investigating whether or not there is a legal age for drivers of ATVs.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Accident Investigation Team was called to the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.