Teen Allegedly Bragged on Snapchat After Running Over 14-Year-Old Boy With Dodge Ram — Police Say He Mistook Victim for Someone Else

A 19-year-old Michigan man is facing a serious felony charge after police say he deliberately drove his pickup truck into a 14-year-old boy riding a minibike, then bragged about the incident on Snapchat. Investigators allege that Owen Wheeler became enraged when he spotted the teenager, believing the boy was someone else. The victim, Bentley Burkhart, suffered significant back injuries and was rushed to the hospital. What makes the case even more disturbing, according to investigators, is that the suspect allegedly appeared to take credit for hitting the child before later claiming his truck had been stolen.

The incident happened around 4:45 p.m. on October 22, 2026, near Maplewood Park in Bay City, Michigan. Police responded to reports that a pickup truck had struck a teenager riding a minibike and left the scene. When officers arrived, they found Bentley surrounded by witnesses. He was complaining of severe back pain and difficulty breathing. He was transported to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with two spinal compression fractures. His family later said he had been released, although they remained concerned about the extent of his injuries and his recovery. Bentley had reportedly purchased the minibike just two days before the collision.

Witnesses told investigators that the vehicle was a green 1997 Dodge Ram. Some reportedly believed the driver had intentionally aimed at the teenager. Surveillance footage allegedly showed the truck traveling along the sidewalk while a passenger leaned out of the front window and shouted at Bentley. One witness who recorded the incident told police the driver appeared to be moving quickly toward the boy, as though trying to run him over. The impact threw Bentley from his minibike and onto a grassy area. The truck did not stop to help him, and investigators later discovered that its license plates had been removed.

As police worked to identify the driver, they received tips that Wheeler had been boasting on Snapchat about “running a kid over.” According to court documents, he initially appeared to claim responsibility for the collision, but later posted that his truck had been stolen and used to hit the teenager. Investigators also obtained surveillance footage showing three people getting out of the Dodge Ram after the incident. With help from public tips and witness interviews, police identified the two passengers, including a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man. The older passenger reportedly identified Wheeler as the driver.

That passenger told detectives that Wheeler became furious almost immediately after seeing Bentley. Investigators say Wheeler believed the boy riding the minibike was someone else, and the witness described his reaction as an instant burst of anger. The passenger also reportedly said the collision did not appear to affect Wheeler emotionally, as he simply continued concentrating on the road. After leaving the scene, the group allegedly abandoned the pickup truck and were later picked up by Wheeler’s girlfriend. These details come from witness statements described in court documents and remain part of the prosecution’s case.

Wheeler turned himself in at the Bay County Courthouse on November 4 and was booked into the Bay County Jail. He has been charged with assault with intent to murder in connection with the alleged attack. His next court appearance had not been publicly confirmed in the latest report. Bentley survived the collision, but the injuries and the circumstances surrounding the incident have left his family facing a difficult recovery. Investigators are now seeking to establish the full sequence of events and what led Wheeler to allegedly target a teenager he believed was someone else. Wheeler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Source: Law&Crime