A boy was seriously hurt after a crash between an e-motorcycle and an SUV in Carlsbad on Thursday night, police said.
The incident happened near Batiquitos Drive and Daisy Avenue at around 8 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found witnesses helping the young rider, according to the Carlsbad Police Department. He was later taken to a nearby hospital with major injuries, Lt. Alonso DeVelasco with the CPD said.
Police say the juvenile is a Carlsbad resident but did not confirm his age or identity. He was wearing a helmet during the collision, DeVelasco said.
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The 39-year-old SUV driver, also a Carlsbad native, stayed at the scene and didn't appear to be seriously injured, police said.
Batiquitos Drive was closed from Poinsettia Lane to Poppy Lane following the crash.
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E-motorcycles are specifically designed for off-road use and are not allowed on roadways, the department said.
The investigation is ongoing, but CPD said in a news release issued Friday morning that neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to be factors in the collision.
Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to contact CPD's Matt Bowen at 442-339-5559 or matt.bowen@carlsbadca.gov.
What's the difference between e-bikes and e-motorcycles?
E-bikes and e-motorcycles can look very similar, but they are different. Some can use a bike lane, while others are not allowed.
Kevin Baross with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition teaches people how to ride e-bikes safely.
"It looks like a bicycle because it has two wheels, and you assume it's a bicycle because a kid is driving it, but it doesn't have any pedals. It's literally just an electric motorcycle," Baross said.
He recommends paying close attention when making a purchase because e-motorcycles are often sold as e-bikes.
According to Baross, e-bikes are lighter, slower and don't need to be registered. They're also legally allowed on roads with bike lanes.
"If your device pushes you faster than 28 miles per hour, it's not street legal," Baross said. "If we're talking about using these devices on the street, it's got to be class 1, class 2 or class 3."
The rules differ for e-motorcycles, which are heavier, faster and not allowed on roadways.
"If you want to ride it on the street, you have to get a motorcycle license to do that," Baross said.
He says riding an e-motorcycle isn't any more dangerous than driving a car — it's just about knowing the rules.
