Fresno Police, Schools Warn Parents as E-Bike Deaths Hit Three This Year

Three kids are dead this year in Fresno from motorized bike and scooter crashes. Police and school officials say parents need to wake up to what they’re buying their children.

Fresno Police documented 116 collisions involving bikes, e-bikes, and scooters so far this year. In 65% of those crashes, the rider was at fault, according to Sgt. Todd Turney with the Police Department’s Traffic Division.

Last month, a 14-year-old Sunnyside High student was killed riding an e-scooter when a car struck him. In May, a 13-year-old boy died after his motorized mini motorcycle collided with a truck in Northwest Fresno.

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“At the Police Department, we do see a rise in the popularity of e-bikes, e-scooters and some of the e-motorcycles that we’re starting to see on the streets,” Turney said.

The devices can hit 28 miles per hour. Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, calls it a problem of coexistence.

“This is a new phenomenon, and we’re not coexisting well on the streets,” Cantwell-Copher said. “As the new school year starts up and more students are riding e-bikes to school, we want our riders and drivers to be more vigilant about looking out for one another.”

Police want parents to understand that e-bike and scooter riders must follow the same traffic laws as car drivers — stopping at stop signs, not entering crosswalks on a red light. Schools can educate students, but they can’t do much beyond that.

“Their fault or our fault doesn’t matter,” Cantwell-Copher said. “We want our drivers to be very conscious of this new phenomenon and to just be looking for opportunities to keep our children safe together.”

The Breakdown

• An e-bike is a battery-powered electric motor attached to a traditional bicycle; depending on class, it can reach speeds up to 28 mph
• Fresno Police recorded 116 collisions involving bikes, e-bikes, and scooters this year; riders were at fault in 65% of those crashes
• Three deaths this year: a 14-year-old Sunnyside High student on an e-scooter struck by a car last month, and a 13-year-old on a motorized mini motorcycle who collided with a truck in May
• E-bike and scooter riders must obey the same traffic laws as motorists

What This Means for You

Three dead children this year, 116 crashes, and most of them the rider’s fault. Police and school officials are asking parents to talk to their own kids, choose devices with reduced speed, and make sure they wear helmets. If you’re driving near schools, be more vigilant about watching for young riders.

What You Can Do

If you’re buying an e-bike or scooter for your child, police and school officials say choose one with reduced speed, always include a helmet, and spend time talking with your child about traffic laws — stopping at stop signs, obeying traffic signals, and staying visible. If you’re driving near schools, Sgt. Turney says be “hyper-vigilant” about your surroundings, especially in school zones.

What to Watch

Three deaths and 116 crashes have prompted police and school officials to hold a press conference asking parents and drivers to be more careful. Schools say they can educate students but can’t do much beyond that. Police are emphasizing that riders must follow traffic laws and that drivers need to watch for young riders, especially near schools.