A 13-year-old Santa Ana resident died after losing control of an electric motorcycle and striking a center median on Magnolia Street in Garden Grove on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The collision occurred around 9:50 p.m. near Larson Avenue as the boy traveled southbound at approximately 35 mph.
Officers from the Garden Grove Police Department were first alerted to the incident by Life360, a location-sharing app with crash detection features. Upon arrival, authorities found the boy unconscious and paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police investigators noted that the teen was wearing a traditional bicycle helmet rather than a specialized motorcycle helmet. The vehicle involved was described as an off-road electric motorcycle with pegs instead of pedals, making it illegal for operation on public streets under California law.
Garden Grove police Sgt. Nick Jensen highlighted the emotional weight of the incident while advising parents to research vehicle classifications before making purchases for children.
“It’s terrible. This is an absolute terrible situation. My heart goes out to the family. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. But my only advice is look up and do some research if you are going to buy your children something if you must,” said Sgt. Nick Jensen, Garden Grove police.
The fatality follows a series of high-profile accidents involving minors on electric vehicles in Orange County. Recent cases include the death of 81-year-old Ed Ashman in Lake Forest and a Yorba Linda incident where a father was charged with child endangerment after gifting his son a modified e-motorcycle.
The Garden Grove Unified School District confirmed the victim was a local student and has provided counselors on campus. District officials are now coordinating with police to increase awareness regarding the legal distinctions between pedal-assisted e-bikes and high-powered e-motorcycles.