Boy, 14, dies in e-bike crash with car as parents warn ‘this is reason why they are banned from the roads’

Boy, 14, dies in e-bike crash with car as parents warn ‘this is reason why they are banned from the roads’

A tragic incident in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, has left the parents of a 14-year-old boy issuing a dire warning to young riders. Finley Dawson, who was killed in a collision involving an electric motorbike and a Kia Sportage, was just 14 years old when the accident occurred last Thursday.

The crash took place on Newbold Road around 8:30pm, where Finley and his 15-year-old pillion passenger were thrown from the e-bike and onto the road. Despite emergency efforts, Finley was pronounced dead the day after the incident. His friend, however, remains hospitalized in a serious but stable condition.

“There is a reason these bikes are banned from the road, and devastatingly Finley has paid the ultimate price in losing his life,” the families stated in a joint message. “His friend has sustained serious injuries and has to come to terms with growing up without his best mate.”

Derbyshire police confirmed that the Kia driver is being treated as a witness and is helping with the investigation. No arrests have been made so far. The families now urge caution, highlighting that the thrill of riding an e-bike on roads can lead to fatal consequences.

In the UK, riders must be at least 16 and hold a valid driving licence to operate electric motorbikes on public roads. However, pedal-assisted e-bikes can be used by individuals over 14, provided their maximum power output does not exceed 250 watts.