What started as a routine beach day in Daytona turned tense on Saturday afternoon, after two people on an electric bicycle struck a 5-year-old boy on the sand near Sun Splash Park, then took off. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is now offering a $1,000 reward to track them down.
Deputies say the pair on the e-bike briefly stopped, apologized, and then rode away while the child was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Later, the sheriff shared a photo of himself with the boy and said the child was “bouncing around in great spirits.” Investigators also released a surveillance still as they work to identify the riders.
According to ClickOrlando, Chitwood posted that he is putting up $1,000 for information that leads to identifying the riders and included the surveillance image with his message. Deputies are treating the case as a hit-and-run just north of Sun Splash Park and say the boy had been walking toward the water with a bucket when a southbound e-bike struck him.
Witnesses Describe Teens On The E-Bike
Witnesses told investigators the e-bike was carrying a male and a female who looked like teenagers and that they stopped only briefly to apologize before leaving the scene, WESH reported. A lifeguard described seeing a clear tire mark along the boy’s calf. Authorities say the child did not suffer any broken bones but had scratches and was fitted with a brace during treatment.
Investigators Release Images, Ask For Tips
Deputies are asking anyone who recognizes the riders or the bike to reach out. Tipsters can email Deputy Bissonnette at [email protected] or call 386-248-1777 and reference case number 26-3669, ClickOrlando noted.
The sheriff’s post includes a surveillance still that investigators believe could help identify the riders, and local stations have been circulating the image, urging viewers to contact the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office with any information.
Beach Rules And Safety Questions
The incident has stirred up fresh debate about how and where motorized devices should be allowed on Volusia’s beaches. The county maintains designated driving lanes and seasonal hours for vehicles on the sand and lists Sun Splash Park as a staffed coastal park with public access, according to county information.
Local TV outlets, including WFTV, have continued to highlight the surveillance image and ask for tips. For now, deputies say their focus is on finding the e-bike riders and making sure the child’s injuries remain minor as he recovers.
