A 14-year-old Severna Park High School freshman has died after his e-moto struck a pickup truck near the B&A Trail Wednesday night, according to Anne Arundel County officials. The teen, identified as Ryan Beales, was flown to an area hospital with serious injuries and died Thursday night, Anne Arundel County Public Schools said.
According to a preliminary investigation, Beales traveled south on the B&A Trail before entering Robinson Road, where he collided with a Dodge Ram 1500 that was on the roadway, as reported by WBAL-TV. Separately, Patch reported that Anne Arundel County Police said the fatal crash happened shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, with police describing the teen as traveling southbound on the B&A Trail before entering Robinson Road and colliding with the side of the truck, which was in the eastbound lane.
Truck Driver Uninjured, Investigation Continues
The truck driver, identified by police as a 49-year-old man from Millersville, was not injured in the crash, per the same account. The teen was flown from the scene to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. An investigation into the crash remains active, and police have not released additional details about what led up to the collision.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools sent a letter to parents Friday afternoon informing them of Beales's death. Principal Nathan Johnson said the school had contacted Ryan's family to offer support and asked the school community to keep the family in their thoughts. The school made counselors and student services staff available to help students process their feelings, and additional staff were brought in Friday to assist.
A Pattern Seen Beyond Severna Park
The crash adds to a broader pattern of bicycle and pedalcycle-related crashes across Maryland. Between 2017 and 2021, the state averaged 782 such crashes each year, with the number climbing 2 percent since 2020, according to a Maryland Department of Transportation program brief. About 81 percent of those crashes resulted in an injury, and roughly 70 percent occurred between May and October — the same stretch of the year in which Beales was killed.
Most of that activity is concentrated close to home. The department's data shows approximately 87 percent of Maryland's bicycle and pedalcycle crashes occurred in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas, with Baltimore City alone averaging 189 bicycle-involved crashes annually — more than 24 percent of the state's total. Separately, Maryland has logged more than 79,000 total crashes so far in 2026, an average of over 274 per day, and 62 motorcyclist deaths, according to The Baltimore Banner, which notes motorcyclists account for more than 18 percent of all roadway fatalities in the state this year.
Similar Crashes Reported Elsewhere
Severna Park's tragedy echoes incidents reported elsewhere involving motorized two-wheelers sharing roads with vehicle traffic. Earlier in the month, a 65-year-old man from Harlem, Georgia died after a car struck his pedal-assist electric bicycle from behind on Old Louisville Road in Columbia County, according to WJBF. That outlet reported the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said it had handled four recent incidents involving e-bikes or similar motorized vehicles.
No further details about the circumstances of the Severna Park crash, including any citations or findings of fault, have been released as the investigation continues. Anne Arundel County Public Schools has not announced any additional memorial plans beyond the counseling support already made available to students at Severna Park High School.
