13-year-old boy killed in e-motorcycle crash in Garden Grove identified
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- The teenage boy who died after he crashed while riding an electric motorcycle in Garden Grove has been identified.
Benson Nguyen, a student in the Garden Grove Unified School District, died Thursday following the crash on Magnolia Street.
The 13-year-old was believed to be going about 35 miles per hour when he approached a curve and collided with a center median, according to the Garden Grove Police Department.
The teen was riding by himself when he crashed and was ejected from the motorcycle.
Police said the e-motorcycle Nguyen was riding was not street legal and emphasized it was not an e-bike, noting it did not have pedals and was more comparable to a dirt bike that would be used for off-roading.
The teen was wearing a helmet, but officials said it was a traditional bicycle helmet rather than one designed for motorcycle use.
Garden Grove police said the case highlights growing safety concerns tied to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles among young people.
The crash marks the second recent fatal incident in Orange County involving an e-motorcycle.
Last month in Lake Forest, authorities said 81-year-old Ed Ashman was killed after being struck by a 14-year-old who was illegally riding an e-motorcycle. That teen's mother has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
