The parents of a 13-year-old Orange County boy killed in an e-bike crash are facing criminal charges after prosecutors accused them of allowing him to ride the powerful vehicle illegally, despite an earlier crash that left him seriously injured.
Benson Nguyen was traveling at 43 mph on an E-Moto when he struck a concrete light pole in Garden Grove on May 7.
Nguyen was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he later died. Prosecutors said that before the fatal collision, he had been speeding, running red lights and performing wheelies on a high-powered E-Ride Pro SS 2.0.
His father, 56-year-old Vu Thanh Nguyen, and mother, 49-year-old Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, both of Santa Ana, are accused of failing to prevent their son from illegally operating the motorcycle-style vehicle.
Authorities said the boy’s father bought him an even faster and more powerful bike despite the teenager breaking his leg in another crash just six months earlier.
“When parents refuse to hold their children accountable and that refusal to parent results in unspeakable
tragedy, then I have no choice but to hold parents accountable,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a written release.
The E-Moto ridden by Benson is classified as a motorcycle, which means it requires a driver’s license and registration with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
If convicted on all charges, Benson’s father could receive up to six years in California state prison. His mother faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.
The case comes as officials warn of a rise in deadly crashes involving electric bikes and motorcycle-style E-Motos throughout Southern California.
“More than 125 deaths have been attributed to E-Bikes and E-Motos in the United States… E-Bike and E-Moto injuries are now the number one reason children in Orange County end up in the emergency room, with injuries skyrocketing more than 430% in Southern California in just the last four years,” the release stated.
A GoFundMe campaign established for Nguyen has raised more than $7,100 toward its $7,500 goal.
