Two juveniles riding motorized bikes were injured in a hit-and-run crash in north Long Beach on Saturday evening, leaving one of them in critical condition. Both youths were taken to a hospital, where the critically injured rider was expected to survive and the other was treated for moderate injuries.
The collision happened just after 6:20 p.m. at East Market Street and Elm Avenue, according to the Press-Telegram. Police told the paper that the driver of the vehicle that hit the juveniles took off without stopping, and detectives have opened a hit-and-run investigation. Emergency crews rushed the two riders to a local hospital following the crash.
Investigation and enforcement
Collision Investigation detectives are leading the case and have asked anyone with information to contact the department. The Long Beach Police Department has already been cracking down on illegal e-motos and pocket bikes this year, seizing multiple bikes and ticketing riders during coordinated operations, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Community groups and parents have also pushed for tougher rules and more education around high-powered motorized bikes, as reported in coverage of parents demanding an e-bike crackdown.
Police told the Press-Telegram that investigators still do not know what led up to the crash and do not yet have a suspect vehicle description to release. Detectives are asking residents with dashcam, doorbell or cellphone video from around East Market Street and Elm Avenue at the time of the collision to contact Long Beach police or submit anonymous tips. The crash highlights ongoing concerns about high-powered motorized bikes mixing with traffic on city streets, and city staff are weighing code changes and outreach efforts to address those risks. Officials say they intend to pair continued enforcement with education as policy discussions move forward. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to reach out to LBPD's Collision Investigation Detail or submit anonymous tips through LA Crime Stoppers.
