Child Thrown Off Dirt Bike, Ran Over After Father 'Jumps' Hills On Side Of Road

MACOMB TOWNSHIP (WWJ) -- A five-year-old child was thrown from a dirt bike while riding with their father on the side of Garfield Rd. in Macomb Township on Sunday afternoon.

A Macomb Sheriff Deputy on patrol was flagged down by a woman who pointed out that a motorcycle crash had just occurred and the child was injured. The deputy quickly found the child who had suffered numerous injuries.

After investigation, deputies learned that the child's father -- a 27-year-old Macomb Township man -- had been riding a KTM mini dirt bike  --with the child -- on the west side of Garfield between the sidewalk and road near Hall Rd. Witnesses said the father was "jumping" hills when the child was thrown off the bike.

One witness driving by said that they saw the man do two or three jumps with the child on the bike. On the last jump, the child flew off the bike and the child's helmet popped off. The witness said she thought that the motorcycle ran over the child.

She also told deputies that the car she was in was travelling at approximately 40 to 45 miles per hour, and the motorcycle seemed to be travelling at the same speed.

A second witness to the crash said that he saw the motorcycle run over the child after the bike went over the jump and the child fell off.

The child was taken to McLaren Hospital in Mount Clemens and later transferred to Children's Hospital in Detroit for further treatment.

Police continue to investigate the matter and charges are likely against the father operating the motorcycle.