Watford City, ND (September 2, 2026) — Two children were seriously injured on Monday morning, August 31, after the e-bike they were riding together was struck by a pickup truck near the entrance to White Buffalo RV Park in Watford City, according to officers. It happened around 7:46 a.m.
Officers on scene provided aid to the children while waiting for medical crews to arrive. Both children were taken to McKenzie County Hospital’s Emergency Department with serious injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck was not injured. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor, according to investigators. State troopers are investigating the circumstances of the wreck, and no determination on fault has been released.
We hope both children make a full recovery.
Why May Two-Up Riding on an E-Bike Multiplies Risk?
Most e-bikes are designed and weight-rated for a single rider, which means adding a second person changes how the bike handles in ways it wasn’t built to manage. Braking distance increases with the extra weight, and the bike’s balance point shifts, making it easier to tip or wobble than it would with just one rider aboard.
A second rider also affects how quickly the person operating the bike can react to something unexpected. Extra weight sitting behind or in front of the operator shifts as the bike moves, and a passenger without their own set of controls or firm footing has very little ability to brace or adjust if the bike suddenly swerves, brakes hard, or hits a bump.
Manufacturers typically specify a maximum passenger limit for a reason, and that number is almost always one rider unless the bike is specifically built with a second seat or footrests for a passenger. Sticking to that stated limit, and using a bike genuinely designed for two riders when that’s actually needed, meaningfully reduces the added instability that comes with doubling up.
