An investigation into the death of an eight-year-old boy in a head-on collision involving two e-bikes on the Sunshine Coast yesterday will probe the type of bikes involved and how fast they were travelling, police say.
An eight-year-old and a 15-year-old boy, both on e-bikes, crashed on the bike path near the Kawana Way and Sunshine Motorway interchange at Mountain Creek about 3.35pm yesterday.
The eight-year-old boy from Mountain Creek was rushed to nearby Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition but died from his injuries.
Queensland Police Inspector Jason Overland (9News)
The older boy is assisting police with their inquiries.
Chief Inspector Jason Overland said the forensic crash investigation will examine the e-bikes involved and how fast they were travelling.
“The investigation will determine what they were and that does involve an investigation of how much power they produce,” Overland said.
He said both riders are believed to have been wearing helmets.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant footage is urged to come forward.
The boy was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital but died from his injuries. (Wikimedia Commons)
The death comes amid a crackdown on e-bike compliance across Queensland in recent months.
”The Sunshine Coast police are not unique, most police services around Queensland and the country are dealing with these issues that are created by these high-powered e-bikes,” Overland said.
He said there was a difference between motor-assisted pedal-powered bikes and electric motorcycles.
Overland stressed he was speaking generally, and not in relation to yesterday’s accident, when he said police were trying to educate parents about the risks of electric motorcycles.
“We’re trying to educate people, mums and dads, who want to buy these kids these machines.
“Some of these bikes are quite powerful… some of them have no pedal-power at all.
“If you’re buying your kids a motorcycle, join a club, go racing in a safe environment, they’re not for the streets and they’re not for bike riders.”
Three illegal e-bikes were seized across the Sunshine Coast as part of Operation Raptor Wheelie earlier this month.
Legal e-bikes can be ridden on paths unless otherwise signed, as long as riders obey bicycle rules such as wearing a helmet.
They must have a maximum continuous power output of 250 watts and be pedal-powered with motor assistance up to 25km/h.
There are no age limits for riding e-bikes in Queensland.
Bikes with motors over 250 watts are illegal, as are throttle-powered bikes without pedals, which are technically electric motorcycles and require registration, insurance and a licence and cannot be ridden on paths.