Man killed in e-bike crash in Chicago suburb identified

A 19-year-old man who died after an e-bike crash in Chicago's northwest suburbs Tuesday morning has been identified.The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and George Street in Franklin Park, just east of Mannheim Road.Officials said Luis Toaquiza was riding an e-bike when it collided with a vehicle driven by a 63-year-old man. Paramedics took Toaquiza to Loyola University Medical Center, where he died about a half hour later.The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with Franklin Park police during the investigation.It remains unclear how the crash occurred. No citations or charges have been announced.Franklin Park police continue investigating.The fatal crash comes amid growing concerns about safety involving e-bikes, scooters and other micromobility vehicles across Illinois.State lawmakers recently approved legislation intended to create a statewide framework governing the use of certain e-bikes and similar vehicles. The bill passed in April and is awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker's signature.If signed into law, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, the measure would:Current owners would be exempt from obtaining a title for their vehicle but would still need to register it under the proposed law.Supporters say the legislation would establish consistent statewide rules, replacing a patchwork of local ordinances that vary from one community to another.