Bicyclist, 12, fleeing dog is seriously hurt

7/13/2007

GRAND RAPIDS, Ohio Authorities have identified the 12-year-old boy injured in a bicycle accident yesterday in northeast Henry County as Eric Minneker. He was hurt when the handlebar of the bicycle he was riding punctured his thigh as he fell while trying to ride away from a dog, they said.

The boy, who is of Henry County s Washington Township, is listed in fair condition this morning at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

The boy was riding with a friend on Washington Township Road T-3, just east of County Road 3, about 1:30 p.m. when they sped up to get away from a large dog, the Henry County Sheriff s Office said.

As he was pedaling, the bicycle s chain got caught in the sprocket. As he fell, the right handlebar caught the pavement and the left handlebar punctured the boy s right thigh, deputies said.

The owners of the dog were cited for allowing it to run loose. Their names have not been released.