Tragedy struck in Joliet Township as a 13-year-old on a motorized minibike sustained severe injuries in a collision. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near Elgin Avenue and Cayuga Street, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrived at the scene around 4:20 p.m. to find the young rider suffering from multiple broken bones and other severe injuries, the ABC7 Chicago reported.
The incident, as deputies learned, involved the teen failing to yield while driving southbound on Cayuga Street at the intersection with Elgin Avenue. The minibike entered the intersection and collided with the front passenger side of an SUV traveling westbound. After being transported to a local hospital by the East Joliet Fire Protection District, the teen's current condition remains unrevealed by officials. The driver of the SUV reported no injuries in the crash, as a preliminary investigation revealed the details of the accident.
In response to the crash, Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley cautioned against underage motorized vehicle operation on public roadways. "Allowing children to operate motorized vehicles such as minibikes or e-scooters on public roadways is both illegal and extremely dangerous," he stated, as reported by NBC Chicago. These regulations are in place to prevent such dangerous interactions between vulnerable riders and larger vehicles.
