TURLOCK, Stanislaus County, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 — A 15-year-old boy died Saturday evening, October 10, after the electric motorcycle he was riding collided with a vehicle near Tokay Avenue and Old Vineyard Road in Turlock.
Officers responding to the report found the teenager not breathing. Fire personnel performed CPR and other lifesaving measures at the scene, but the boy was pronounced dead there. Police received the initial call around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Tokay Avenue was closed between Quincy Road and Old Vineyard Road while officers worked the scene.
The case remains under investigation. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
What the Numbers Show About E-Bike and E-Moto Crashes Among Young Riders
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 33 motorcyclists who died were not wearing helmets in 2023, a figure that points to how exposed riders on two wheels are compared with people inside a vehicle, regardless of what powers the bike. That exposure helps explain why electric-mobility crashes involving teenagers have drawn more attention from researchers and reporters in recent years.
A study published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open tracked a sharp rise in e-bike injuries statewide, from two recorded incidents in 2018 to 1,566 in 2024. The same research found e-bike riders were cited for unsafe speed and improper turns more often than riders on traditional bicycles, and that riders 14 and younger made up a larger share of those hurt on e-bikes than on standard bikes, 15.8 percent compared with 10.2 percent, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
Not every analysis lands on legal e-bikes as the main driver of that trend. A 2025 report from the Mineta Transportation Institute, cited by CalMatters, found that illegal e-motos, not standard e-bikes, account for most of the rise in injuries among electric-mobility riders. It is not yet known whether the vehicle involved in Saturday's crash was an e-moto or another type of electric bike or motorcycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do motorcycle and e-bike crashes tend to cause more serious injuries?
Riders have no metal frame, airbags, or seatbelts around them, so a collision transfers force directly to the rider. Even low-speed crashes can cause broken bones, head injuries, or worse.
How do left-turning vehicles contribute to these crashes?
A common pattern involves a driver turning left across traffic who misjudges the speed or distance of an oncoming motorcycle or e-bike, or simply doesn't see it in time to stop.
What can drivers do to spot motorcycles and e-bikes more easily?
Checking mirrors and blind spots twice, slowing before turns at intersections, and giving extra space at dusk or in low light can help drivers notice smaller, faster-moving vehicles sooner.
What should a rider do immediately after a crash?
Call 911, stay as still as possible until checked by paramedics, and get a full medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some, like head or internal injuries, aren't obvious right away.
What to Do After an Electric Motorcycle Crash in Turlock, CA
Anyone involved in or witnessing a crash like this should call 911 right away and wait for police and paramedics to arrive. Even riders who feel uninjured should be checked by medical personnel, since adrenaline can mask pain from fractures or head trauma.
It helps to write down what was seen or remembered as soon as possible, including the time, weather, and any other vehicles nearby, while details are still fresh. Families affected by a crash involving a minor should also ask police how to obtain the official report once it's completed, since that document often takes days or weeks to finalize.
