Police Issue Helmet Reminder After Boy Strikes Car in Briar Hill Complex

police issued a reminder to parents that their children must wear a helmet while involved in certain activities after a township boy struck a car with his bike last week. 

The 11-year-old boy, whose name was not released by police because he is a minor, was riding a BMX-style bike on 37 Place in the Briar Hill apartment complex Friday evening when he collided with the side of a Honda wagon, said Capt. Lisa Parker. 

The boy was not wearing a helmet when he struck the car and was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River after complaining of pain and sustaining some "minor scrapes and bruising," Parker said. 

The driver of the struck car, 34-year-old Stephanie Bowman of Virginia Beach, Va., was properly restrained and uninjured. No charges have been filed against Bowman and Patrolman Antonio Ellis is investigating the incident, according to Parker.

"The Manchester Police would like to remind all parents that it’s not only the law that your child wear a helmet under age 17 while bicycling, skateboarding and roller-skating, but that it can greatly reduce the instances of traumatic brain injury," Parker said.

A "Positive Ticket" helmet program, led by Officer Douglas Higgins of the Traffic Safety Section, is run by the department to encourage juveniles to wear a helmet. 

"Officers while on patrol who observe your children wearing a helmet will stop them and give them a positive ticket," Parker said, "which if redeemed at select local restaurants and businesses puts them in the running for a new bicycle and helmet raffled at the end of the summer."

The program, sponsored by the Manchester Township PBA 246, as part of the fourth annual program in January.