El Monte police are investigating a fatal crash that may have involved an electric bicycle, after one person was found dead Monday night near the intersection of Richwood Avenue and Bryant Road.
Officers responded around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 to reports of a collision. When they arrived, they found a damaged e-bike next to the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the exact circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. The incident comes as concerns over e-bike safety have intensified across Southern California.
It also follows recent enforcement action in downtown Los Angeles, where police cracked down on illegal minibike and e-bike takeovers on the 6th Street Bridge. City officials warned that small, homemade minibikes can be hard for drivers to see and often lack safety equipment such as helmets.
Authorities continue to urge riders to follow the rules for each class of e-bike. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, whether pedal-assist or throttle-equipped, are limited to 20 mph, while Class 3 bikes can reach up to 28 mph and are restricted to riders 16 and older. Helmets are required for riders under 18, and bicycle-lane use and traffic-law compliance are strongly encouraged.
