Boy injured in dirt bike incident

A Marcellus boy was injured after the driver of a dirt bike on which he was a passenger experienced a problem with the throttle.

Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were notified around 2:30 p.m. Sunday about the incident that took place in the 500 block of Snyder Street in the village of Marcellus.

Investigators said the dirt bike was operated by 49-year-old Jerry Swartz. He told authorities he was driving the motor bike with a 3-year-old passenger on private property.

Swartz said the dirt bike’s throttle cable had broken, causing a loss of control. Furthermore, it was unable to slow or stop as it was heading for a tree. Swartz told authorities he decided it would be safer to lay down the bike and, in doing so, he grabbed hold of the 3-year-old passenger.

Family members transported the child to Three Rivers Health. He was later transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Alcohol was not a factor in this crash and helmets were worn, authorities said.