A teen and four children were all rushed to the hospital after the utility vehicle they were in flipped in Lexington County.

Troopers say a 19-year-old was driving a John Deere utility vehicle along Windy Wood Road. Four other children were with them. When the teen tried to turn onto Scrub Oak Road the vehicle overturned. All five were sent to the hospital.

“They’ve been a huge issue lately,” said Pelion Police Chief John Rebolj.

It happened around 5 p.m. on Sunday. The children riding with the teen ranged from 7 to 12 years old. Troopers say the 12-year-old had a serious injury and the other four had minor injuries.

Neighbors were sad this happened but say they constantly see reckless behavior with these types of vehicles.

“Don’t have helmets on and going too fast. I don’t like them; wish they’d get rid of them,” said Shirley Geunter who lives near where the accident happened.

Pelion police say they’ve had more issues with UTVs and other similar vehicles lately.

“Just last Sunday, not this Sunday but the Sunday before, we had two dirt bikes come through town doing wheelies and when one of my officers tried to stop them they ran away,” said Rebolj.

It's illegal for these types of vehicles to be on the roads.

“It’s not that the state of South Carolina doesn’t want you to have fun, it’s that these things are dangerous and they’re not allowed on the road for a reason because we don’t want to have to go to your house and notify mom and dad that you’ve been seriously hurt or worse killed,” said Rebolj. “We’ve had an increase in traffic 80% or more in the last two years I’ve been chief of police”.

He said if these issues continue, they’ll have to ramp up enforcement

“I hate to write tickets to kids, but if we have to we will,” said Rebolj.

“I 100% back him up. I’d be fed up with it too. Seen too many kids get hurt,” said Geunter.