Orange County Dad Charged with Child Endangerment Following Teen’s 60 mph E-Bike Accident
Concerns Over E-Bike Safety Prompt Charges Against Yorba Linda Father
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has issued a cautionary note to parents following the filing of criminal charges against a Yorba Linda father, linked to a serious e-bike accident involving his son.
As e-bikes gain popularity among teenagers, law enforcement officials emphasize that many parents remain unaware of the potential dangers associated with these powerful vehicles, particularly when they are modified or improperly used.
Video footage released by the Irvine Police Department highlights the rapidity with which e-bike rides can become dangerous, showcasing several incidents where riders have lost control, crashed, or collided with vehicles.
The charges against Richard John Eyssallene stem from allegations that he assisted his 12-year-old son in modifying an e-bike into what is essentially an e-motorcycle. According to Kimberly Edds, Director of Public Affairs for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Eyssallene is accused of altering the bike by replacing the pedals with motorcycle pegs and removing its speed governor. These modifications allegedly allowed the bike to reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Eyssallene faces felony child endangerment and child abuse charges, as well as contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The incident in question occurred last year when his son ran a red light and crashed into a car at the intersection of Via Lomas de Yorba West and La Palma Avenue. Despite wearing a helmet, the boy sustained serious injuries, including inner cranial bleeding, fractures to his femur and wrist, and several other injuries.
The bike had been a Christmas gift from the previous year, and the boy had been cited previously for illegally riding the modified vehicle. Notably, he and his father had attended an e-bike safety seminar with his younger brother shortly before the crash. Edds commented, “I don’t think we should be putting our child in a situation where they are riding a vehicle that is capable of going 60 miles an hour.”
The dangers posed by modified e-bikes extend beyond this incident. In Newport Beach, a recent enforcement operation near schools led to the stoppage of 46 e-bike riders in a single day, resulting in 37 administrative citations, 14 vehicle code citations, and 12 warnings. Additionally, police impounded three e-bikes and arrested two teens on electric motorcycles who attempted to evade capture.
Healthcare providers are also witnessing the troubling trend. According to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the number of treated e-bike trauma patients rose significantly last year, from 125 to 201.
In response to the increasing incidents, police departments throughout Orange County are organizing safety seminars aimed at educating e-bike riders and their parents. Mike Thomas, a sergeant with the Huntington Beach Police Department, noted, “Part of our training is not only doing the practical exercises and the hands-on training, but we also go into and actually showing some of the advertisements of some of the well-known manufacturers that are selling these bikes online and showing them what the difference is and really opening their eyes to what an actual legal versus illegal device is.”
As the case against Eyssallene unfolds, prosecutors hope it serves as a warning to parents: “If you fail to follow those laws, you as a parent are going to be held accountable,” Edds stated.
Eyssallene appeared in court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty. Should he be convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to six years. E-bike safety seminars are offered by Huntington Beach and other police departments across Orange County, with local residents encouraged to reach out for further information.
