A 14-year-old Bellwood-Antis freshman is dead after losing control of an electric bike on a stretch of Sandbank Road, sliding across fresh grass clippings before falling and hitting the pavement. Ian Ulrich was rushed to UPMC Altoona, where he later died from his injuries. Police say he was not wearing a helmet at the time.
What Happened on Sandbank Road
According to CBS Pittsburgh, the crash happened around 7 p.m. on September 26 on Sandbank Road in Antis Township, roughly 800 feet north of Frito Lane. Per a state police report cited by the outlet, Ulrich was riding a Temu 749W electric dirt bike north on the road when he drove through grass clippings on the roadway, lost control, and fell onto the pavement, suffering suspected serious injuries. He died the next day, September 27, at the hospital, the outlet reported, attributing the account to Pennsylvania State Police.
Separately, WJAC reported that fresh clippings on the roadway reportedly caused the teen to lose control of the electric bike, and that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was taken to UPMC Altoona, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the station reported.
School District Mourns a Ninth Grader
The Bellwood-Antis School District identified the student as Ian Ulrich, a ninth grader, and described his death as heartbreaking news for the school community. District officials said counselors and support staff, including a crisis intervention team, would be made available to any students and staff needing support in the aftermath.
A Statewide Surge in E-Bike Crashes
Ulrich's death lands amid a documented rise in e-bike injuries and fatalities across Pennsylvania. PennDOT reported that e-bike rider injuries increased 40% statewide from 2024 to 2025, according to NBC Philadelphia, which also cited PennDOT figures showing two e-bike rider fatalities in the state in 2024 and 12 in 2025.
In Philadelphia alone, e-bikes and e-scooters were involved in 197 crashes on city streets in 2025, resulting in four deaths and 193 injuries, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. That outlet also noted that PennDOT only began counting electric bikes and scooters separately from other pedal cycles, unmotorized scooters and pedestrians in its annual crash tally starting in 2024 — meaning the full scope of the trend is still coming into focus.
Other Recent Cases Across the State
Ulrich's death follows several other recent e-bike tragedies involving Pennsylvania children. In August, a 12-year-old boy was killed in an e-bike crash in York County, according to the Altoona Mirror, which also reported that two juveniles were hospitalized with what police described as moderate injuries after their e-bike collided with a vehicle in Erie. The same report noted that police in Allentown have counted 58 crashes involving e-bikes or scooters, injuring 40 people, so far in 2026.
The Philadelphia Inquirer also detailed the case of Abigail Gillon, a 12-year-old girl who died two days after she and a friend were struck by a car while riding an electric scooter in Aston Township; her friend was severely injured. Outside Pennsylvania, NBC San Diego reported that 14-year-old Owen Harris died after his e-bike collided with a Tesla in Pacific Beach — he died from his injuries by the time he arrived at the hospital, and no charges had been filed against the driver.
Lawmakers Weighing New Rules
As crashes, injuries and fatalities climb, lawmakers are increasingly looking to make changes to better protect riders and others, per the Altoona Mirror's reporting on pending state legislation. Under existing Pennsylvania law, no person under 16 years of age is permitted to operate a pedalcycle with electric assist — defined by statute as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle weighing no more than 100 pounds, with operable pedals and a motor rated at no more than 750 watts, limited to 20 miles per hour on level ground, according to Act 154 of 2014 from the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
