A 14-year-old boy riding an e-bike died after he was hit by a car at a busy Pacific Beach intersection Saturday night, according to San Diego police.
The crash happened just after 9 p.m. at Olney Street and Balboa Avenue.
Police said the boy was riding an e-bike north on Olney Street when he turned onto Balboa Avenue against a red traffic signal and was hit by the driver of Tesla.
The driver stopped and called for paramedics.
The boy died from his injuries by the time he arrived at the hospital. No charges have been filed against the driver.
Wayne, an e-bike rider who only wanted to provide his first name, frequently crosses the intersection while traveling between Pacific Beach and Clairemont for work.
He said he takes precautions when riding.
“I wear the bright vest, orange or yellow, whenever I go out, ” Wayne said.
He said the teen’s death was upsetting but that he was not surprised by another electric-bike accident.
Wayne said visibility can be an issue on some streets.
“There’s one street down here where cars park. I know they passed a law where they’re not supposed to be too close to the curb. So, they can’t see and they just pull out,” he told NBC 7 Sunday morning.
The fatal crash comes as San Diego County Supervisors plan to crack down on manufacturers and retailers accused of distributing overpowered electric motorcycles as e-bikes.
On Tuesday, the Board is expected to vote on a plan to investigate and pursue legal action against those manufacturers and retailers.
M.G. PerezM.G. Perez
Timmrick Vegh sells and rents e-bikes and other beach equipment at Ray’s Rentals in Pacific Beach, September 13, 2026.
Timmrick Vegh, who rents e-bikes, traditional pedal bikes, surfboards and wetsuits at Ray’s Rentals on Mission Boulevard, said some companies are attempting to pass off mopeds and smaller motorcycles as e-bikes.
That can leave customers unaware of the power of the vehicles they are buying.
“Suddenly they’re given the keys to a lot of speed very quickly and they just have no idea how to deal with it,” Vegh said. “If they’re being sold as an e-bike then they’re being deceived. There are a lot of unscrupulous companies.”
Wayne said he plans to continue riding his e-bike while taking extra care following the teen’s death. “It’s a tragedy. It’s just so sad.”
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.