12-year-old on dirt bike hit by van

FRIENDSHIP, Md. -  

A twelve-year-old boy is in the hospital after he steered his dirt bike into the path of an oncoming van.

The crash happened just after 2:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Friendship Road in Anne Arundel County, police said.

A police investigation found that a 1992 Ford Econoline van was driving west on Friendship Road when a Toyota dirt bike being driven on the side of the road by a twelve-year-old boy suddenly turned left into the path of the van.The driver tried to stop but hit the boy and the bike. Both became wedged under the van and were dragged for a short distance. The boy was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Police said it appears the boy, who was illegally riding the unregistered dirt bike on the road, was the cause of the crash. Police said it does not appear alcohol or speed played a role in the collision. 

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