Second fatal e-bike crash this year raises safety concerns
The Huntington Beach Police Department is investigating a fatal e-bike collision that killed a 62-year-old woman from Westminster after she crashed into a raised concrete curb Saturday afternoon at Warner Avenue and Brightwater Drive. Authorities say the woman was riding eastbound in the bicycle lane when she hit the curb and was found unconscious in the roadway.
Emergency crews responded at about 4:30 p.m.. Paramedics transported the rider to a local hospital, where she later died of her injuries, according to statements posted by the department and reporting by regional outlets. Huntington Beach police said their Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is examining the scene and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“The department's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team continues to examine the crash.”
Investigators have not released whether impairment or mechanical failure played a role and have asked anyone with information or video of the crash to contact HBPD Traffic Investigator Vishal Rattanchandani at (714) 536-5231. Police also asked witnesses to come forward to assist in reconstructing the incident.
Local pattern mirrors statewide rise in e-bike incidents
Saturday’s death is the second fatal e-bike incident in Huntington Beach within a few months. Local records show that on July 21, a man riding an e-bike collided with a vehicle at Warner Avenue and Plaza Lane and died five days later from his injuries. Those two deaths have prompted renewed attention from residents and officials to safety on city roadways where e-bikes share lanes with cars and traditional bicycles.
Statewide figures cited by news outlets highlight a broader trend that Huntington Beach now sees at the local level. California Highway Patrol data show reported e-bike crashes increased from 48 in 2020 to 1,366 in 2025. A separate study found e-bike riders were involved in at least 4,035 California collisions between 2018 and 2024.
| Year / Period | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 48 reported e-bike crashes | California Highway Patrol (reported) |
| 2025 | 1,366 reported e-bike crashes | California Highway Patrol (reported) |
| 2018–2024 | 4,035 collisions involving e-bike riders | Study cited by regional reporting |
City residents and transportation advocates said the crashes underscore the growing need to revisit infrastructure, enforcement and rider education as e-bike use increases. Huntington Beach’s mix of busy arterial roads, beach-area bike lanes and tourist traffic can create conflict points where riders and motorists must navigate the same corridors.
- Police are asking witnesses to contact Investigator Vishal Rattanchandani at (714) 536-5231.
- This incident occurred at Warner Avenue and Brightwater Drive around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
- It is the second fatal e-bike incident in Huntington Beach in recent months, following a July collision on Warner Avenue.
City and regional officials have in recent years considered various responses to rising e-bike incidents, including targeted enforcement of traffic laws, safety outreach campaigns for e-bike riders, and infrastructure improvements such as protected bike lanes and curb modifications. Any changes in Huntington Beach will require coordination among the police department, public works and regional transportation planners.
For now, investigators continue to piece together how the curb was encountered and whether road design, rider behavior or vehicle factors contributed. The HBPD’s request for witnesses and video reflects a standard investigative step in single-vehicle collisions where reconstructing the final seconds can be critical to determining cause.
Residents with information or digital footage are urged to call the HBPD traffic investigator listed above. The department did not immediately release the name of the victim pending family notification.
This story will be updated as the Huntington Beach Police Department releases additional information.
