12-Year-Old Boy Driving Dirt Bike Seriously Injured In Van Collision

FRIENDSHIP, Md. (WJZ)— A 12-year-old boy driving a dirt bike on the roadway is seriously injured after colliding with a van.

It happened just after 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the 500-block of Friendship Road in Friendship.

Police say the 12-year-old boy was driving an unregistered 2006 Toyota Tian Jin Baja dirt bike westbound along the white fog line.  As a 1992 Ford van was passing the dirt bike, the dirt bike abruptly turned left, into the path of the van, without any notice.

The driver—49-year-old James Randall Detoto, of North Beach—says he attempted to avoid striking the dirt bike, but he was unable to do so.

During the collision, the bike became lodged under the van, dragging the bike and the boy for a short distance.  The 12-year-old was separated from the bike and he came to rest in the roadway.

The cause of the crash appears to be driver error by the juvenile dirt bike driver.

Neither alcohol nor speed appear to be factors.

The investigation is continuing, and no charges have been placed pending the investigative outcome.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Traffic Safety Section at 410-222-8573.