Teenager dead, another seriously injured after running red light, crashing into cars
A teenage boy was killed and another was seriously injured when an e-bike they were riding ran a red light and crashed into two cars in Melbourne’s north-east on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old was a cyclist when he crashed at the corner of Findon and Plenty roads in South Morang at 5.30pm on Wednesday. The person who was learned to be injured was treated but died at the scene.
Acting Road Police Deputy Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said the teenager was not wearing a helmet at the time.
A 17-year-old boy wearing a helmet behind the handlebars of the e-bike was also seriously injured in the collision. As of Thursday morning, he was in serious but stable condition at Austin Hospital with injuries to his lower body.
Police said the e-bike crashed into a second car after hitting the car. Both drivers stopped at the scene.
“Think about these two individuals who were involved in last night’s collision, who were not physically injured but were seriously psychologically injured. So this has a huge impact on our society,” Goldsmith said.
He said the injured boy would be questioned after being released from hospital and likely face serious charges, including culpable driving and dangerous driving causing death.
Goldsmith also said the injured boy was unlicensed and the prevalence of e-bikes was a nationwide problem, adding that police stations were inundated with calls about “mass cycling” across the state.
“This was an illegal motorcycle that could not be registered in Victoria because it did not fit the safety category to be registered in Victoria,” he said. “[It] “It can go up to 90 kilometers per hour and is in the hands of children, and unfortunately there are a lot of them on the market.”
For a motorized bicycle to be considered legal in Victoria, it must have working pedals and a maximum power output of 250 watts (not exceeding 25 km/h). Goldsmith said the bike involved in the South Morang crash had its pedals removed.
“They are often imported from other countries [and] “They don’t meet the criteria to register in Victoria,” he said. “And certainly since the Covid lockdown years, the growth has been tremendous.”
Goldsmith said the state government was trying to strengthen laws regarding e-bikes. Spring Street began restricting converted e-bikes on trains and ticketed areas following a review last year.
The prevalence of e-bikes has also prompted NSW and Queensland to consider stricter regulations. But Goldsmith said new laws and their enforcement would only go so far in curbing the problem, and parents played an equally important role.
“If it’s an unregistered motorcycle we can certainly enforce it. But the sheer volumes make it really difficult for Victoria Police to deal with it,” Goldsmith said.
“I would ask all parents to be careful that this is not a fun toy. Some of these modified motorcycles and those that cannot be registered for safety reasons pose a huge risk to their children. But you can avoid it.”
The road policing operation, which will take place over the Anzac Day weekend, will be the police’s third high visibility operation in April alone.
“While we have had a strong presence throughout April, we are unfortunately in the midst of significant traffic trauma and have unfortunately and tragically suffered 14 fatalities in the last 11 days,” Goldsmith said.
In 2026, 82 people lost their lives on Victoria’s roads.
Anyone who witnessed the incident with video or information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at: crimtoppersvic.com.au.
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