Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred Thursday in Clay County.

Shortly after 5 p.m., officers and emergency personnel responded to the 2700 block of North County Road 875 East in Poland after receiving reports of a serious ORV accident.

Upon arrival, responders located Michael D. Rubeck, 65, of Bowling Green, trapped under an ORV. Rubeck was pronounced dead at the scene.

The initial investigation revealed the ORV was being operated on the roadway by a juvenile with Rubeck as a passenger. The juvenile operator swerved to miss an animal in the roadway, and the ORV left the roadway and rolled onto the passenger side and onto Rubeck.

No helmets or safety equipment were in use at the time of the accident, which is still under investigation.

Assisting agencies included the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, emergency medical service, and coroner’s office; and the Bowling Green, Poland, and Posey fire departments.