A child riding a pocket bicycle died early Sunday at a collision with a car in southern Los Angeles. The small motorized bicycle was stuck in the front of the car in the accident, after which the driver fled on foot, according to the police.
Until Sunday night, the police were still looking for the motorist.
Pocket bicycles cannot be legally operated in the streets because they often lack important security characteristics and are also difficult to see for other conductors. These motorized bicycles are also often operated by minors who do not have a driver's license, according to the authorities.
The name and age of the victim have not been released.
The accident occurred around 2 in the morning when the pocket bicycle headed north on San Pedro Street, just after 99th Street. The child was hit by a dark color toyota corolla that traveled north through The same street.
The driver could not help after hitting the rider.
The police described the driver of the car as possibly in his 20 years with a heavy construction. The driver could be accused of a serious crime for leaving the scene.
The detectives of the South Traffic Division are urging anyone who has witnessed the collision to be presented.
In a statement, police officers said that motorists involved in a collision must stop and stop as soon as it is sure to do so, notify emergency services and remain in the scene to identify.
The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the dead child on the scene.
In October, Joseph Rangel, 15, was on a pocket bicycle when he died in a collision of outrage at the border of the neighborhoods of Westlake and Pico-Union.
In October, a minor who rode a mini bicycle died in a collision hit at the border of the neighborhoods of Westlake and Pico-Union.
(KeyNews)
The California road patrol raised concerns about the growing illegal use of pocket bicycles last year.
“Chp East officers have been seeing an increase in the use of mini bicycles/pocket bicycles in the streets through East La Uncravados,” according to an Instagram post of May 2024 of the agency. “Although they may seem fun, they are dangerous (and illegal) to travel on any public street. Most of those we have found do not have the appropriate safety equipment required for motorcycles (brakes, lights, mirrors, spin signs, speedometer).
The post urged parents to help keep them away from the streets: “Unfortunately, we are presenting more accidents that involve mini bicycles (mainly driven by minors) that cause serious riders to the riders. We urge the owners of mini bicycles (and parents) not to set up these bicycles on public roads. ”
