Teen Could Face Charges In Fatal Dirt Bike Crash
POINT MARION (KDKA) - A 17-year-old could face charges for causing the death of a 2-year-old boy in Point Marion Friday.
The child was riding in the teen's lap on a dirt bike when it crashed into an SUV.
According to police, the SUV had no chance to stop before the dirt bike slammed into the front end.
Ryan Metz, 2, was killed when he was thrown off the bike and into the vehicle.
"The bike operator failed to stop at the intersection. He was going out an alleyway at the rear of Railroad Street and struck the car on Stella Street," Jay Stutler with the Port Marion Police Department said.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner Paul Kondrla blames the accident on carelessness.
"No regard for human life is the way I would put it. A 17-year-old, you're just a kid yourself, but to put a 2-year-old on a motorcycle and to drive recklessly with a 2-year-old who, in my opinion, had no say so whether he was on the bike or not," Kondrla said.
State police are now deciding whether to file charges against the 17-year-old.
"In my opinion, I don't see how they could not charge him with some kind of vehicular homicide. I don't see how that can be avoided," Kondrla said.
Authorities hope this tragedy serves a s a warning to others to avoid riding unlicensed, unregistered dirt bikes on the streets especially with a passenger when neither one of them are wearing a helmet.
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