One of the hot topics in Orange County continues to be the rise in e-bike and e-motorcycles collisions and the injuries and deaths that have occurred due to those collisions. Seal Beach resident Stephanie Potter, 72, was struck by a youth on an e-motorcycle in March.
She suffered a broken leg, arm, hand and jaw, among other injuries and spent two weeks in the hospital. She continues to get rehab for her injuries, with more surgeries upcoming. On July 28, Potter was a guest at the Seal Beach City Rotary Club’s monthly luncheon, along with Elisa Kim of the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
Potter has become a staunch advocate for better education about the potential dangers of e-bikes and motorcycles. Kim and the DA’s office are on a similar mission to also make people aware of the dangers and if necessary, take actions for misuse of, and harm caused by riders.
“Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is making it very clear that if parents are not going to hold their children accountable for their actions … then, we are going to have to hold the parents accountable,” Kim told the attendees.
The OC DA’s office recently filed involuntary manslaughter charges against a mother whose 14-year old son struck Lake resident Ed Ashman, 81, while riding an e-motorcycle. Ashman eventually died of his injuries. The OC District Attorney’s office said the mother was repeatedly warned that the e-motorcycle was illegal for her child to operate.
The plan in place by the District Attorney’s office includes taking on the issue on several fronts. They are looking to introduce more legislation to keep the vehicle in check, while also pushing better understanding and cooperation from parents, children and manufacturers of e-bikes and e-motorcycles.
According to statistics released by the OC District Attorney’s office, injuries caused by e-bike and e-motorcycle accidents have spiked by 430 percent in Southern California in the past four years. And children between the ages of 11 and 14 have accounted for almost 62 percent of e-motorcycle crashes, even though anyone under the age of 16 is not legally allowed to operate an e-motorcycle.
Kim said the e-bikes are generally limited to a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour and 750 watts of power. They must also be pedal assisted, like a regular bicycle. E-motorcycles often have foot pegs, like a regular motorcycle and can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. They also have up to 20,000 watts of power, Kim said.
Stephanie Potter, still dealing with a jaw that needs more surgery, as well as missing teeth, was not comfortable speaking in front of the group. Her daughter-in-law, Shannon Potter, spoke for her and talked of the difficulties and changes in her life that Stephanie has had to deal with since the collision. And the long road to recovery that she still faces.
“What people don’t realize is that those injuries don’t end when someone leaves the hospital, the recovery follows you home,” Shannon said.