(MARCELLUS) – A child was injured over the weekend in a dirt bike crash.

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke says his department was called to the 500 block of Snyder Street in Marcellus at 2:30 PM Sunday. Deputies discovered that 49 year old Jerry Swartz of Marcellus was driving the dirt bike when the vehicle's throttle cable broke and he wasn't able to control it.

Swartz told deputies the bike was not able to slow down or stop and he was heading for a tree. He thought it would be safer to lay the bike down, and while doing so, Swartz grabbed 3 year old Corbin Spangler, and tried to absorb most of the impact himself to protect the child.

Family members transported Corbin to Three Rivers Health. He was later flown by West Michigan Aircare to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo for treatment.

Both Swartz and Corbin were wearing helmets at the time of the crash, which remains under investigation.