WILMINGTON — A 19-year-old Wilmington man has pleaded guilty to a criminal charge following an April 2025 collision at Smith Creek Park that left a 5-year-old boy with significant injuries, court records show.
Guilty plea and sentence
Camren Isaiah Creme entered a guilty plea Wednesday to an assault inflicting serious injury charge, classified as a Class A1 misdemeanor, in New Hanover County Superior Court before Judge R. Kent Harrell.
Under the terms announced in court, Creme received a 60-day suspended sentence, 18 months of supervised probation and a requirement to complete 500 hours of community service. Court records show he had already completed 334 hours of that service prior to the plea.
District Attorney Jason W. Smith said the plea is intended to hold Creme accountable while also giving him an opportunity to educate other young riders about e-bike safety.
Additional requirements and safety training
As part of the sentence, Creme must complete an eight-hour Street Safe course, a driver education program targeted at young drivers and riders. The prosecutor’s office said Creme will become a presenter on e-bike safety, sharing his experience with other young riders. He also must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations.
Officials said laboratory testing detected THC in Creme’s blood after the crash. Court filings indicate Creme remained at the scene, cooperated with investigators and sustained multiple fractures to his foot during the incident.
What happened at Smith Creek Park
The collision occurred April 2, 2025, on the park’s two-way circular path in northern New Hanover County — an area officials say is heavily used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Signs at Smith Creek Park prohibit motorized vehicles on that path.
Authorities reported the 5-year-old victim was learning to ride his scooter and was wearing a helmet and other protective gear. Investigators say the child had been walking the scooter and tried to avoid Creme’s e-bike moments before the impact. Creme told law enforcement he also attempted to avoid the collision but that his foot became lodged between the brake and the ground.
Investigators estimated the e-bike was traveling between 25 and 30 mph when it struck the child, propelling him about 20 to 30 feet from the point of impact. The child sustained significant injuries and was taken for medical treatment.
Local implications and park safety
The case underscores ongoing tensions in Wilmington and New Hanover County over motorized devices in public parks and on multiuse paths. Smith Creek Park's circular path is a popular corridor for families, walkers and bicyclists; local officials have repeatedly emphasized compliance with posted rules which ban motorized vehicles to protect vulnerable users.
Prosecutors framed the negotiated plea as both punitive and educational: it holds the defendant to account while obligating him to participate in outreach aimed at reducing similar incidents.
- Incident date: April 2, 2025
- Defendant: Camren Isaiah Creme, 19, Wilmington
- Victim: 5-year-old boy, learning to ride a scooter
- Park: Smith Creek Park, northern New Hanover County
| Sentence component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspended jail time | 60 days (suspended) |
| Probation | 18 months supervised |
| Community service | 500 hours total (334 hours already completed) |
| Education | 8-hour Street Safe course; required to present on e-bike safety |
| Substance evaluation | Required; THC detected in defendant's system after crash |
For parents, park users and local leaders, the case raises questions about enforcement of vehicle prohibitions, public awareness of e-bike speeds and appropriate spaces for motorized mobility devices. City and county agencies that manage park facilities say they rely on signage and routine patrols, but advocates and some residents argue for additional outreach and clearer regulations as e-bikes and similar devices become more common.
The district attorney’s office characterized the resolution as a way to convert a traumatic event into instruction for others operating e-bikes in the district. The victim’s family and medical status beyond the immediate transport for care were not detailed in court records reviewed by WE NEWS.
The case remains a cautionary example for Wilmington families who use shared recreational paths: speed, vehicle type and situational awareness can have serious consequences, particularly where children and other vulnerable users are present.
