Thirteen-year-old boy dies in a tragic accident while illegally riding an electric motorcycle (E-Moto), leading to charges of “endangering child safety” against the parents. On October 21st, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against six parents involved in similar incidents.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated, “These vehicles are far from children’s toys. If you intend to hand over the keys to this ‘lethal weapon’ to a child, you must be prepared to bear the consequences.” Data from the California Traffic Comprehensive Record System shows that children between the ages of 11 and 14 account for as high as 61.7% of E-Moto accidents. In Orange County, incidents involving electric bicycles and motorcycles have become the leading cause of children being sent to the emergency room, with cases increasing by over 430% in the past four years.
Spitzer emphasized, “Our intention is to save children’s lives, and we did not want to prosecute the parents. However, when parents fail to fulfill their duty of supervision and refuse to prevent their children from riding dangerous and illegal motorcycles, we have no choice.” Since January, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has brought criminal charges against parents in 12 similar cases through its “RIDE SAFELY Unit” targeting responsible riding and enforcing the law regarding electric bicycles and motorcycles among teenagers.
In one case, a 14-year-old boy in Lake Forest struck and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran while riding an E-Moto. The boy’s mother faces charges of “involuntary manslaughter” and could face a maximum of 7 years and 8 months in prison. She had previously received warnings, hence involving criminal liability.
Furthermore, on October 20th, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced that thirteen-year-old Benson Nguyen died on May 7th in Garden Grove while riding an “E-Ride Pro SS 2.0” electric motorcycle at high speed, running a red light and performing dangerous maneuvers like a wheelie. The vehicle lost control, throwing Benson into a concrete lamppost, leading to his tragic death.
Benson’s 56-year-old father, Vu Thanh Nguyen, faces a felony charge of endangering child safety and a misdemeanor charge of inducing minors to violate the law; while his 49-year-old mother, Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, faces a misdemeanor charge of endangering child safety. They could each face up to 6 years and 1 year of imprisonment, respectively. Benson had posted several videos showcasing his skills on TikTok and Instagram, but his E-Moto did not comply with California Department of Motor Vehicles’ regulations, as it was not registered, did not have license plates, insurance, or full motorcycle safety gear, making it illegal.
1) Alex Li is facing a misdemeanor charge of endangering child safety and a possible maximum one-year imprisonment for allowing his 11-year-old son to illegally ride a 1200-watt electric motorcycle, exceeding the legal limit of 750 watts for electric bikes. On June 30th, the boy collided with a pickup truck in Yorba Linda while speeding (the vehicle can reach speeds of over 33 miles per hour), resulting in the child fracturing bones and arterial bleeding.
2) Maria Dolores Roehling is charged with a felony endangering child safety and a violation of allowing minors (under 18) to drive motor vehicles without a license. She faces a maximum of 6 years in state prison. On May 23rd, her 9-year-old son in Yorba Linda rode an E-Moto at high speed (capable of exceeding 33 miles per hour), colliding with a pickup truck. The boy’s Instagram account showed him performing stunts on residential streets, and weeks before the accident, he had shared content regarding other riding incidents.
3) Dan Rezmives faces a misdemeanor charge of endangering child safety, a misdemeanor charge of prompting minors to violate the law, and a violation of allowing minors to drive motor vehicles without a license, possibly leading to a maximum one-year imprisonment. On March 22nd, his 12-year-old son rode a “Surron Light Bee” electric motorcycle on the street, accompanied by his father on a bicycle. The police warned both of them for the violation, with the parent claiming it was a Christmas gift for the son; the motorcycle can reach speeds of up to 33 miles per hour.
4) Hulin Guo and Xiaomin Wang are individually charged with a misdemeanor of endangering child safety, a misdemeanor of inducing minors to violate the law, and a violation of allowing minors to drive motor vehicles without a license, facing a maximum of one year in prison. On May 9th, their 17-year-old son drove a “Surron” electric motorcycle at over 40 miles per hour in Newport Beach, weaving through pedestrian walkways and even driving against traffic, leading law enforcement to chase after them as they refused to stop for inspection. This couple had received warnings several times due to their son’s reckless riding, and their motorcycle had been impounded multiple times.
On Halloween 2024, the teenager was recklessly riding in the community, performing wheelie stunts with many children participating in trick-or-treating nearby, resulting in a police visit and warnings given to the parents. In September 2023, the couple was warned after their son’s reported riding behavior.
5) Tuan Nguyen faces a misdemeanor charge of endangering child safety and a possible maximum one-year imprisonment. On April 8th, his 13-year-old son refused to pull over for inspection and drove a “Surron Light Bee X” motorcycle in Garden Grove, engaging in a police chase. The teenager reached speeds of 40 miles per hour, running red lights and driving against traffic before ultimately crashing into a police car.
6) Jose De Jesus Ramirezbarragan faces a misdemeanor charge of inducing minors to violate the law and a possible maximum one-year imprisonment. On May 27th, he allowed his 15-year-old brother to ride his E-Moto in La Palma. The teenager evaded La Palma police officers, ignoring their loudspeaker instructions, and fleeing at 40 miles per hour. During the pursuit, he ran several red lights, almost colliding with multiple vehicles, and was finally apprehended when he crashed into bushes on the roadside.