A young man riding an electric motorcycle crashed, seriously injuring an 81-year-old man
An 81-year-old man is in critical condition after being hit by a 14-year-old boy riding an electric motorcycle near an Orange County high school, authorities said.
The suspect who was riding in a passenger fled the scene, leaving the elderly victim with life-threatening injuries, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies responded to a call just before 4pm Thursday about a pedestrian in the area of Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive in Lake Forest. There, they found the 81-year-old victim seriously injured and took him to the hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect was crossing the road when he was hit, authorities said, and witnesses reported that the suspect was driving recklessly at the time. The teenager suspected in the crash was quickly identified and a search warrant was served at a nearby Lake Forest home, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
The teenager was taken into custody and booked into Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of fleeing the scene of an accident causing injury and reckless driving resulting in injury, according to public information officer Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla. Authorities have not released his name as he is still a minor.
After further investigation, deputies discovered the child was not riding an e-bike, but a Surron electric motorcycle, he said. These high-speed devices are designed for off-road travel and are not allowed on roads, he added.
“The victim was just crossing the road and, whether it was a marked or unmarked intersection, he had the right to walk,” he said. “This was a tragic accident that could have been prevented if there had been more information about e-bike safety.”
The incident happened near El Toro High School, but it is not clear if the suspect is a student there.
Gwisdalla said the Ministry urges parents to look closely at the equipment they buy for their children, especially since some people do not know the difference between e-bikes and e-motorcycles and how dangerous these motorcycles can be.
Top speeds of electric motorcycles such as Surrons can range from 45 to 68 mph, depending on the model, and these devices generally cannot be registered for use on public roads, even if the rider has a motorcycle license.
By comparison, Class 1 e-bikes, which are pedal-assisted, and Class 2 models, which are pedal- and throttle-assisted, can reach 20 mph. Class 3 bikes can go up to 28 mph and may only be ridden by those 16 and older in California.
“A small mistake suddenly turns into a serious incident or accident and there can be serious injuries,” Gwisdalla said. “We really want the public to know what these e-motorcycles are capable of, that they are not intended for street use and should not be in the hands of children.”
The case has not yet been forwarded to the Orange County district attorney’s office for review. The Sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team continues to investigate the crash.
Anyone with additional information about the collision is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be left at (855) 847-6227 or at ocheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.
