12-year-old flown to trauma center for major injuries suffered in e-bike crash

A 12-year-old remains hospitalized with major injuries after they were hit by a car while riding an electric bicycle in San Luis Obispo County on May 9. The child was riding the e-bike near the intersection of Spooner Drive and Welsh Court when the crash occurred. The San Luis Obispo Police Department received multiple 911 calls for the crash at around 4:30 p.m. Police and firefighters responded and found the child suffering from severe injuries. The child was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to police. “The child sustained major injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being flown out of the area due to the significant nature of their injuries,” the San Luis Obispo Police Department said. The child has undergone several surgeries and is now in stable condition at an out-of-area trauma center, police said. The driver remained at the scene of the crash and is cooperating with the investigation. Authorities do not suspect impairment was a factor in the crash. Numerous children have been seriously injured or killed in e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes in California in recent years. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who has cited growing concerns over crashes involving powerful electric bikes and motorcycles, said more than 100 deaths nationwide have been linked to e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes. E-bike injuries in Southern California have risen 430% in the past four years. Earlier this month, Amazon announced that it will no longer allow the sale of certain high-speed e-bikes in California in response to a consumer alert issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.