Update 10:40 a.m. Monday, March 24:
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY — An 87-year-old man was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a dirt bike on County Road 451 in Presque Isle County.
The 15-year-old driver was arrested on charges related to the crash, and his parents were charged with allowing their child under 16 to operate an ORV.
According to a March 24 news release update from the Michigan State Police, in the initial incident at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, troopers from the MSP Alpena Post witnessed a dirt bike crash on County Road 451 in Presque Isle County.
Troopers’ investigation indicated an 87-year-old Rogers City man walked across County Road 451 with a flashlight to his mailbox. Once the man reached his mailbox on the east shoulder of the road, a juvenile operating a motorized dirt bike without a headlight was traveling northbound on the same side of the road and collided with the elderly man.
The 87-year-old man was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the dirt bike did not sustain any injuries. On March 5, the 87-year-old man succumbed to his injuries he sustained during the crash.
The trooper’s report was sent to the Presque Ise County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and arrest warrants were issued for the family. On March 14, troopers from the Alpena Post apprehended a 15-year-old and arrested his parents on charges related to the crash.
The petition for the following charges on the juvenile was authorized: one count of Homicide-Manslaughter/Involuntary, one count of Homicide-Manslaughter-with Motor Vehicle, one count of Reckless Driving Causing Death, one count of Moving Violation Causing Death, and Driving-Reckless.
The 15-year-old’s preliminary hearing in juvenile court was on March 15. The juvenile’s parents were arraigned in the 89th District Court in Presque Isle County on one count of Operating-ORV-Parent Allowing Child Under 16. The mother was given a $2,000 cash or surety bond and the father was given a $3,500 cash or surety bond. Their next court appearance is scheduled for April 1, 2025.
Troopers from the MSP Gaylord Post assisted the Alpena Post, Presque Ise County Sheriff’s Office, Rogers City Police Department, Rogers City Ambulance, and Rogers City Area First Responders.
Original story:
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY — An 87-year-old man has succumbed to injuries after a dirt bike crash March 1 in Presque Isle County.
According to a March 11 news release, at 7 p.m. on March 1, troopers from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Alpena Post witnessed a dirt bike crash on County Road 451 in Presque Isle County.
Troopers’ investigation indicated an 87-year-old Rogers City man was walking across County Road 451 with a flashlight to his mailbox before the crash.
Once the man reached his mailbox on the east shoulder of the road, a juvenile operating a motorized dirt bike without a headlight was traveling northbound on the same side of the road and collided with the elderly man.
The 87-year-old man was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the dirt bike did not sustain any injuries. On March 5, the 87-year-old man succumbed to injuries he sustained during the crash.
The Alpena Post was assisted by troopers from the MSP Gaylord Post, Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Office, Rogers City Police Department, Rogers City Ambulance and Rogers City Area First Responders.