A 14-year-old boy riding an e-bike was killed in a crash with a Tesla in San Diego on Saturday night. Police say he entered an intersection against a red light before he was hit.
The crash happened at around 9:20 p.m. on Sept. 12 at Balboa Avenue and Olney Street in Pacific Beach. The teenager was riding a Zooz e-bike north on Olney Street.
At the same time, a 38-year-old man was driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 west on Balboa Avenue. Police say the Tesla struck the teen after he entered the intersection against the red light.
The boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
The Crash Happened at Balboa and Olney
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Police identified the bike as a Zooz e-bike but did not say which model the teenager was riding. California has different rules depending on the e-bike class.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes can assist up to 20 mph. Class 3 bikes can assist riders up to 28 mph and come with a higher age requirement. Police have not said how fast the teenager was traveling before the crash or what class of e-bike he was riding.
San Diego Just Changed Its E-Bike Rules
The crash happened about a month after new e-bike rules took effect in San Diego. As of Aug. 13, children under 12 are no longer allowed to ride Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes on city roads, bike paths, trails, parks or boardwalks. The city is giving riders a 60-day grace period before citations begin on Oct. 12.
That new minimum age wouldn’t automatically make it illegal for a 14-year-old to ride an e-bike. It depends on the bike. San Diego also reminds riders that e-bikes must follow traffic signs and signals like other vehicles. Riders under 18 must wear helmets.
Class 3 E-Bikes Are Different
Under California law, anyone riding a Class 3 e-bike has to be at least 16 years old. Class 3 riders must also wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Since San Diego police described the bike in Saturday’s crash only as a Zooz e-bike, there isn’t enough information to know whether the Class 3 age restriction applied in this case. Police have also not said whether the teenager was wearing a helmet.