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Teen injured when his dirt bike was hit by a truck

Saturday, January 2, 2010

By Anna Rochelle, Staff Writer

A Solsberry teen was hospitalized with a small skull fracture after the dirt bike he was riding was hit by a pickup truck on Thursday afternoon.

Payton Heist, 14, was riding a Yamaha dirt bike on County Road 735E near CR 575N in Beech Creek Township when the accident occurred at 3:30 p.m.

Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Deckard responded to the scene and reported Heist suffered head and leg injuries and was transported to Bloomington Hospital by the Greene County Ambulance Service.

An update on Heist's condition was included in a press release issued by the Sheriff's Department late Friday.

The release stated, "As of today's (Friday) date, a family member advised that Payton had a small skull fracture and required three stitches in his leg, but is set to be released from the hospital on Saturday."

Deputy Shane Smith also responded to the scene along with the Ambulance Service and the Eastern Fire Department.

Heist was reported to have been southbound on the county road with a 1994 Ford pickup truck also traveling south behind him.

Adam Ganz, 16, Solsberry, was driving the truck.

The report says Ganz was attempting to pass Heist on the left side of the roadway while Heist was in the left side of the roadway.

When Heist made an abrupt left turn into a private drive, the truck struck the bike and caused Heist to fall of the dirt bike.

Comments

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I hope the kid is alright.

So what is this, 2 kids playing in the road. If the kid driving the truck was just driving on the left side just because. Then shouldn't he be cited??? Being 16 it is possible he didn't have a license anyway. I'm guessing the kid on the dirt bike wasn't wearing a helmet either. Which is law if you are under I think 18.

-- Posted by citizen474 on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 12:23 PM

Well overall payton,probaly should'nt a been riding his dirt bike on the rode without a helmet. Also more thank likely the 16 year old probaly did't have a lisence.And I think you should be 16years of age to ride any atv. vehicle on the road. But yes I know this kid and he is a pretty good kid.

-- Posted by My business on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 12:40 PM

that is riding a atv on the road

-- Posted by My business on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 12:41 PM

-- Posted by citizen474 on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 12:23 PM

You are an idiot!!!! The 16 year old was driving down the fricking road! He swerved to the left to avoid him he thought the kid on the bike was pulling off to let him by and instead the boy on the bike was attempting a u turn in the middle of the road not paying attention to the rules of the road, like looking before you do a u turn!!! It was an accident that could not have been avoided buy the driver it could have been anyone who hit him it could have been me I was first on the scene! So maybe before you pass judgment you should have your facts straight!!!

-- Posted by countrygirl82 on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 1:14 PM

Thank you I am the mother of the 16 year old driver he has a drivers license we have been thinking about the boy ever since and have not been able to get a report on the kid untill now and I had to read it in the paper as far as the report i know what it says so I think the police department need to included right details like the kid was on the right hand side of the road pulled off the road.

-- Posted by skinser on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 1:23 PM

Where were this kid's parents? Why was he allowed to ride his dirt bike on the road if he did not know enough to signal his turn or ride on the right side of the road. It is a good thing the accident was not deadly.

-- Posted by GirlyGirl21 on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 6:38 PM

"So maybe before you pass judgment you should have your facts straight!!!

-- Posted by countrygirl82 on Sat, Jan 2, 2010, at 1:14 PM "

Didn't you just pass your own judgment upon citizen474 when you declared, "You are an idiot!!!!"?

-- Posted by L A on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 12:15 AM

ok im the 16 year old driver of the truck.just to set stuff straight the wreck happend at 2:30 not 3:30. he was on the right side of the road not the left.we were on a big hill the roads were wet i seen him slow down and pull to the edge of the right hand side of the road i went to pass him and he quickly turned left in front of me with out looking behind him or signaling he was turning. i hit the brakes and slid into him. it was a complet accident and i am truly sorry for the physical and emotional damages caused to him and his family. im very happy to hear that he is going to make it through. the cops said it wasent my fault and i couldent have been avoided but me personaly i feel very gulity for what happend that day..

-- Posted by chevy_guy1234 on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 4:08 AM

chevy_guy, as commendable as it is to try and set the record straight, NEVER EVER admit what happened in an accident till all insurance, medical, and legal circumstances are absolved. Talk to your family and legal counsel yes. But to talk here or elsewhere in public? NO!

This may very well be considered an accident by the officer but the police don't file legal charges. The police present their findings and reports to the prosecutor who decides if any charges should be brought against those involved.

I wish you and both families luck.

-- Posted by L A on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 5:51 AM

chevy_guy1234 - Thanks for posting your side. We have become such a reactionary and litigious society that people feel that someone must always be blamed and punished. Regardless of fault many folks look at a being injured in tragic accident as being just as good a winning the lottery.

-- Posted by keninman on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 7:46 AM

Too many people pass judgement without knowing the facts about things and that is unfair. Many of you may think what my son has posted shouldn't have been posted but he wanted his side heard.HE has that right. Our hearts are with the boy and his family.

-- Posted by skinser on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 8:23 AM

none of us are blaming you Adam,Payton is going to be all right,he is a regular,mischievous 14 year old boy,thinking he was getting by with something.and for SOMEONES information,he is NOT allowed by his parents,and those that have ever had a 14 year old THEY know what i am saying!Adam do not let any one derail you from being the thoughtful, honest young man you are.I am glad you are BOTH alright.paytons' gramma

-- Posted by agramma on Sun, Jan 3, 2010, at 6:03 PM

This message is from Payton's parents. We would like for everyone to know Payton should make a full recovery from this Thanks to God answering our prayers, and Thanks to all the prayers from others, but most of all God. We have never been so scared in our lives. For the people who want to know where his parents were when this happenend, we were inside changing our clothes to go out to dinner, we knew Payton started up his bike and we thought he was putting it up since he was going out to dinner with us, it had only been a few minutes and he was not back inside and I didnt see him so I called his cell phone, he didnt answer so I left him a message saying that he better be locking his bike up and not taking a ride because his helmet was sitting on the couch. Anyone who knows us, knows our #1 rule is you never ride without your helmet! it was less than 10 minutes since he walked out the door and we heard sirens, we went over the hill and seen the accident. To the people making comments that do not know the facts, nor know either families involed, You need to have a heart and keep your uncalled comments to yourself. As far as the legal side, its between the parents and the leagal system. Payton was released on Sunday Jan. 3rd and Adam and his mother came to see him when he got home, some of you need to look up the word ACCIDENT because thats what this was! Adam is truly sorry and we accept his apology as we do know the meaning of an accident, you never know when that shoe can be on the other foot and our son will be driving one day. To parents out there, that let their kids ride on the road even once in a while, please stop! as this is a hard lesson for us. To the ones who do not have kids, you dont need to even comment as you dont know how quick kids can break the rules and its too late. Again, we are truly thankful for all the prayers, The Heist Family

-- Posted by Heist on Mon, Jan 4, 2010, at 1:04 PM

I am truly happy that nothing too serious happened to peyton! Me and my friend were first there and we were so scared for the boy and his family!! We have been worried sick until this article came out and said he was gonna make it! I know this was a complete accident ! I just am so happy that he is gonna recover ! Kids are so quick to think they have it all figured out! Hopefully he learned his lesson that parents know best always and you should always be prepared for anything because you never know what will happen! As in always wearing his helmet!

AND TOO LA I did not pass a judgment ! I simply stated a fact that they did not have the facts in this matter and They were passing judgment on both parties in the accident They did not have any clue what happened. Like I said They should have the FACTS FIRST!! And the greene county world should also get the story straight!

-- Posted by countrygirl82 on Mon, Jan 4, 2010, at 6:02 PM

I am a nieghbor of Paytons. He seems like

a good kid. He is like any other teenager,

anxious, energetic, and impatient. Been

there done that. We are just glad He is o.k.

For those of you that do not live by the Heist

family and want to pass judgement I feel

sorry for you. They are good nieghbors

that have been nothing but, pleasant

to all of us that live around them. They

are in NO WAY responsible for two teenagers

making quick rash choices. Please who out

there has not. You guys where in our prayers

the moment we realized what had happen. Dont

feel guilty guys, your great parents

-- Posted by authorforall on Mon, Jan 4, 2010, at 11:16 PM

Quick judgement is often the forte for allot of people when they read an article like this. they are scared and angry And need to vent. the problem is they tend to vent before they have the facts. i can understand a young boy out messing around on his bike, i still remember those days. and the 16 yr old driver,you had no recourse. all in all bad timing and quick decisions.. hope both boy will weather this ordeal well.

-- Posted by dennisb1953 on Tue, Jan 5, 2010, at 4:02 AM

Updates from the parents...here is four months later and Payton has been recovering wonderfully and is so full of energy....its wonderful. We would like to make an addtional statement on the comment that someone wrote about that some people see an accident as good as winning the lottery! We hit the lottery the day our son was born. The day of the accident we thought we was going to lose our winnings! But thanks to Adams quick reponse to call 911, everyones prayers and most of all to GOD, we get to keep our winnings!! Adam is a wonderful young man who has stayed in contact with Payton and just visited him last night.This was a horrible situation for the families on both sides and im thankful we have all gotten through this and Payton and Adam our friends...its crazy how life works! Thanks again for everyones prayers and concerns, there are truly a lot of great people out there! THE HEIST FAMILY

-- Posted by Heist on Sun, May 2, 2010, at 8:40 AM