Helmet likely saved 12-year-old cyclist’s life.

The helmet Zachary Hall was wearing.

PENTWATER TOWNSHIP (Oceana County) — A helmet worn by a 12-year-old Ohio boy who was struck by a van Tuesday morning, June 14, on North Business US 31 near Lakeshore Drive very likely saved him from serious injury or death, according to Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Mast.

“The young man that was riding his bike was wearing a basic shell type of cycle helmet, but this helmet very likely saved serious injury if not death,” Mast said. “A witness statement tells that the boy went flying off the bike upon impact with the vehicle. He then struck the ground head- first, which is what caused the damage to his helmet.  His bike was damaged beyond repair.”

The driver of a 2015 Ford Transit van, Nicholas Allen Keyes, 22, of Manistee, told police that the bicyclist, Zachary David Hall, of Amelia, Ohio, rode out into the road in front of his vehicle. “Nicholas stated that he took evasive action to prevent a collision with the bicyclist by turning to the left, but it was too late and he struck the bicyclist,” the accident report states. “Bicyclist Zachary Hall stated he stopped at the stop sign, but he did not see (the van) approaching the intersection, so he rode out onto the road, where he was struck.” Witnesses stated that Hall rode out into the road in front of the van, and the van was unable to avoid a collision, according the report.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, the report states.

Hall was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.