The devastated parents of a teenager who died after crashing an electric bike said he might still be alive had he worn a helmet. And mum and dad gave a stark warning to "prevent families going through this same tragic hell".
As reported by Lancashire Live, Owen David Jones came off an electric bike he had borrowed from his friend on May 11. The 17-year-old had headed down a road at speeds of up to 30mph. But when his friends got to the bottom of the hill they found him lying unconscious in the road.
Owen, an apprentice joiner and carpenter, was flown to the Royal Preston Hospital but he died the following day after doctors discovered he had suffered several skull fractures. An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard the pressure inside Owen's skull was four times the normal level.
And the injuries sufffered by the lifelong Man United fan, who lived with his family in Crawshawbooth in Lancashire, were "unsurvivable". Following the inquest, his parents Lisa and Richard called for greater legislation over electric bikes and scooters.
The Sur-Ron bike Owen had been riding at the time of the crash was not road legal and had undergone several modifications to allow it to be ridden faster. The couple said: "Four months ago we lost Owen from a severe brain injury caused by coming off a Sur-Ron E-Bike.
"If he was wearing a helmet, we've no doubt the outcome could have been very different and Owen would be here today. More legislation is needed for e-bikes and e-scooters.
"I regard the operation of many e-bikes as more akin to a motorcycle road bike than a bicycle. They achieve acceleration to a top speed of 40mph+, much faster than anything else on the roads. Since Owen's accident we've personally seen teenagers without helmets and careless adults speeding down streets/roads and even pavements on their e-bikes.
"For public safety, helmet requirements, age limitations and operating restrictions should be implemented for e-bikes, as they are for motorcycles. This may prevent other parents and families going through this same tragic hell as we are.”
The inquest heard that as the bike Owen was riding was not road legal it did not have to conform to any safety features. However, despite the modifications, Area Coroner Chris Long found that these had not contributed to the collision.
The following is information published by the DVLA
Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance
You can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, as long as it meets certain requirements. These electric bikes are known as ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs). You do not need a licence to ride one and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.
What counts as an EAPC?
An EAPC must have pedals that can be used to propel it. It must show either the power output or the manufacturer of the motor. It must also show either the battery’s voltage or the maximum speed of the bike
Its electric motor must have a maximum power output of 250 watts and should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph. An EAPC can have more than 2 wheels (for example, a tricycle).
Where you can ride
If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.
Other kinds of electric bike
Any electric bike that does not meet the EAPC rules is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be registered and taxed. You’ll need a driving licence to ride one and you must wear a crash helmet.
Getting vehicle approval for an electric bike
An electric bike must be type approved if either it can be propelled without pedalling (a ‘twist and go’ EAPC) or it does not meet the EAPC rules. This should have been done by the manufacturer or importer before purchase. If it’s been type approved, it will have a plate showing its type approval number.
