One person was injured after an electric dirt bike collided with a Ford F-150 pickup in Huntley early Sunday morning, police said.
Deputy Chief Kevin Keane of the Huntley Police Department said officers were called to a serious collision at 1:12 a.m. Sunday morning at the intersection of Haligus and Reed Roads involving a 19-year-old male on an E Ride Pro electric off-road dirt bike and the F-150 pickup truck.
Preliminary findings show the electric off-road dirt bike was traveling westbound on Reed Road as the Ford F-150 driven by a 40-year-old female was traveling eastbound and turning north onto Haligus Road, Keane said.
The two vehicles collided in the intersection, Keane said.
Personnel from the Huntley Fire Protection District, which was located near the accident scene, responded immediately after hearing the crash.
The electric off-road dirt bike operator sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, Keane said.
The driver of the Ford F-150 was uninjured, remained on scene, and has been cooperating with the investigation.
Initial investigation indicates that the electric off-road dirt bike was not legal to ride on the public roadway, Keane said.
Additionally, the dirt bike lacked mandatory visibility equipment required under Illinois law, including a white front headlight and a red rear reflector light.
The operator was also not wearing a helmet, Keane said.
Keane said police believe these factors were major contributors to both the crash and the severity of the injuries sustained by the operator.
The Huntley Police Department urges parents and guardians of children and young adults who use any electric motorized vehicles to review all applicable state and local laws and basic safety guidelines, Keane said.
He said the Huntley Police Department has recently tried to increase education and enforcement of these vehicles to prevent incidents like what happened on Sunday.
“Together, we can reduce the risk of serious crashes that endanger young people and others on the road,” Keane said. “We extend our hope for a full and speedy recovery to the injured rider.”
The crash remains under active investigation, he said.