E-Moped Strikes 81-Year-Old; Juvenile Flees
- An 81-year-old man was struck by a juvenile riding an electric moped who fled the scene, police said. - The victim's age was 81; authorities describe the crash as a hit-and-run and no arrests were made. - Officials urged safer e-moped use and asked witnesses to contact investigators with tips (patch.com).
A 14-year-old boy was arrested after investigators said he struck an 81-year-old pedestrian with an electric motorcycle in Lake Forest and fled. (nbclosangeles.com) The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, near Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive by El Toro High School, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies found the man with life-threatening injuries and took him to a hospital, where officials said he was in critical condition. (ocsheriff.gov) Sheriff’s officials said the rider was quickly identified as a 14-year-old Lake Forest boy. Deputies served a search warrant at his home and booked him into Orange County Juvenile Hall on Friday, April 17. (nbclosangeles.com) The vehicle was first described in early reports as an e-bike, but investigators later said it was an off-highway electric motorcycle. Orange County deputies said that type of vehicle lacks pedals and can exceed 28 miles per hour. (foxla.com) That distinction matters in Southern California because police agencies have been warning for months about faster electric two-wheelers showing up around schools, sidewalks and neighborhood streets. A KTLA report last year, citing a JAMA Network study, said e-bike injuries rose from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022, while e-scooter injuries climbed from 8,566 to 56,847. (ktla.com) In this case, Orange County sheriff’s investigators said the teen was allegedly driving recklessly before the collision. The department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case and processing the seized motorcycle and other evidence. (nbclosangeles.com) FOX 11 identified the victim as Ed Ashman, an 81-year-old substitute teacher and veteran, citing students and a verified GoFundMe page. The sheriff’s department has not publicly named him. (foxla.com) The sheriff’s department asked anyone who saw the crash to call investigators at 714-647-7000 or contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227. The case that began as a hit-and-run is now centered on whether a high-powered electric motorcycle was being ridden where it should not have been. (ocsheriff.gov)
