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URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/teen-killed-ebike-crash-franklin-park-police/?intcid=CNR-01-0623

⇱ Teen killed in crash between e-bike, car in Franklin Park identified - CBS Chicago


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A teen killed in a crash between his e-bike and a car in Franklin Park Tuesday morning has been identified.

Franklin Park police said they were called to the intersection of Belmont Avenue and George Street around 6:30 a.m. for a report of a cash between a car and an e-bike.

Police said the teen on the e-bike was taken to Loyola Hospital by ambulance but did not survive his injuries. Medical examiners identified the victim as Luis Toaquiza.

A neighbor, who did not want to appear on camera, said they heard a loud boom this morning but didn't actually see what happened.

The driver of the car, a 63-year-old man, stayed at the scene and spoke with police, Franklin Park officials said. An investigation into what caused the crash remains ongoing.

Just a few weeks ago, Illinois lawmakers approved tougher statewide regulations for electric bikes, scooters and skateboards. Supporters say the new regulations will prevent injuries and fatalities.

Dr. Kristine Cieslak, a pediatric emergency physician at Lurie Children's Hospital, said she's seen both minor and severe injuries from e-bike accidents and crashes.

"It's pretty much simple physics when you think about it; the faster you ride, the harder you're gonna fall, and the less time that you have to react, both the person riding and maybe someone who's traveling next to them in a car or on their own legs walking on the sidewalks," she said. "Instead of cuts and scrapes, and simple fractures, bumps and bruises like we would see when kids fall off their bikes; for the e-scooters, we're now seeing complex fractures – clavicles, elbow, forearm. They might be bent, they might need to be relocated in the emergency department."

Cieslak said, not only has she seen the physical impact, but the emotional side as well.

"I can tell you there are a lot of tears, and there are a lot of thoughts that parents have of guilt and feeling that they're responsible somehow for this happening to their child, because maybe they could've done something differently that would've prevented that serious injury," she said.

It is not clear whether any charges or citations are pending against the driver.


The video above is from an earlier report.

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