The sheriff says a car was at fault when it struck an electric bicycle and sent a child to the hospital in the parking lot of a movie theater in Deer Park Monday afternoon.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded around 12:45 p.m. Monday to the Cinemark Century Deer Park 16, 21600 West Field Parkway in Deer Park, for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a crash involving an electric bike and a vehicle, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The e-bike was struck by the car in the parking lot of Cinemark Century.
The rider was a 14-year-old boy, who suffered some bumps and bruises, Covelli said. He was not seriously injured.
Paramedics transported the child to a local hospital for an evaluation.
The driver of the car was at fault in the crash. No citations were issued to the driver of the car since it occurred on private property.
The child was not illegally riding the electric bicycle because it occurred on private property.
“That doesn’t diminish the danger factor of children riding these vehicles,” Covelli said.
The sheriff’s office has seen a significant increase in children operating electric bikes and motorized dirt bikes, many of which are capable of reaching speeds over 40 mph.
“These vehicles can pose serious safety risks, especially when operated on sidewalks or roadways by unlicensed and inexperienced riders,” Covelli said.
Across Lake County, the sheriff’s office has responded to numerous crashes involving the devices. In most cases, the crashes involved riders who were children unfamiliar with traffic laws and roadway safety.
Many municipalities in Illinois are enacting local ordinances restricting or banning the use of electric bikes and similar motorized devices by children under 18.
“While the Lake County Sheriff’s Office currently enforces applicable state laws, we are actively evaluating whether to recommend a more restrictive county ordinance to better protect our youth and the community,” Covelli said.