Boy Riding Minibike Fatally Struck By Deputy

police tape

BATTLE CREEK (WWJ/AP) - Authorities say an 11-year-old boy who was riding a minibike has died after being struck by a southern Michigan sheriff's deputy who was heading to the scene of a burglary.

The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office says the Battle Creek boy was riding when he was hit shortly after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Battle Creek. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Sheriff Matt Saxton tells WWMT-TV the death is "heartbreaking."

BREAKING NEWS: Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton said one of his deputies struck and killed a teenage male riding a pocket bike on Michigan Ave W in Battle Creek around 9:30 pm. Saxton said the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.@wwmtnews pic.twitter.com/8k5UeiQtvL

— Mike Krafcik (@Mkrafcik) May 29, 2019

"It will be fully investigated as with any fatal accident," Saxton told the station. "There’s nothing at this point that leads me to believe that the deputy intentionally did this, obviously. I mean, he was responding to a call."

Saxton said the deputy was responding to a burglary in progress in the nearby city of Springfield, but the vehicle didn't have its emergency lights activated at the time of the crash. The minibike wasn't illuminated with lights.

The boy's name wasn't immediately released. The deputy wasn't injured.

The crash investigation is being handled by Michigan State Police.