A 16-year-old girl suffered a broken leg in a dirt bike accident behind Smithville District Christian High School Sunday night.

At 6:50 p.m., police, firefighters and paramedics responded to a reported dirt-bike accident in a field behind the school on Smithville Road.

Police and EMS were directed to a 16-year-old female, who had fallen from a 2007 90 cc BAJA style mini-bike.

She was a novice rider, said police, and had lost control on rough ground, while learning to ride with friends.

She had been wearing an off-road style helmet, but had no other protective gear.

The youth was taken to the St. Catharines General Hospital, where she was being treated for a suspected broken leg.

Police are not anticipating charges, since the field was private property, but do remind people that proper instruction in the operation of off-road motor vehicles is recommended to reduce the likelihood of collision or injury.