Serious-injury e-bike crashes involving Utah children ages 12 and under have jumped more than 250% compared with last year, according to state data first reported by KUTV/2News.

Statewide, 72 crashes involving e-bikes and e-scooters have been tracked in 2026. Six were fatal.

The numbers land close to home for Draper families. The city banned Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes, motor-assisted scooters and e-motorcycles from all trails, paths and parks, according to a Draper City notice posted in May. Draper Police Lt. Mike Elkins said in August that the department had seen an uptick in incidents, including two serious e-motorcycle crashes in a 30-day span, Fox 13 reported.

"We have seen an uptick. As a matter of fact, probably in the last 30 days we've had two serious accidents, both involving e-motorcycles," Elkins said.

An Orem family's warning

The statewide trend has a face. Fourteen-year-old Kaezden Davis of Orem was hit by a van while riding his e-bike near Cherry Hill Elementary School on Oct. 13, according to a police report cited by KUTV. More than three weeks later, he remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital, his mother, Michelle Pino, told 2News.

Pino said Kaezden had just returned from a doctor's appointment when he asked to go for a quick ride to a nearby park. Minutes later, police came to her door.

According to the police report, a van was traveling north on 200 East approaching 1780 South when Davis, riding east on the sidewalk, crossed the street and collided with it.

Pino told 2News that Kaezden's right lung was severely injured and doctors may need to remove part of it if it does not heal. After more than a week on ECMO, a heart-lung support machine, he developed pneumonia and a blood clot.

What the law requires

Utah's HB 381, which took effect May 6, sets rules by age and device type, according to the Utah Highway Safety Office.

Children under 8 cannot operate any motorized e-mobility device on a public road. Riders ages 8 to 13 need a parent or responsible adult present when the motor is engaged on a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike. No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike, which can reach 28 mph with pedal assist.

All e-bike and e-scooter riders under 21 must wear a helmet on public roads. Officers can now seize a device if a minor is violating safety laws and hold it until a parent picks it up.

Starting in May 2027, riders ages 8 to 16 will be able to ride without direct adult supervision if they complete an official state safety certificate course.

Draper's extra restrictions

Beyond state law, Draper prohibits Class 2 e-bikes, Class 3 e-bikes, motor-assisted scooters and e-motorcycles on city trails, paths, parks and other public property, according to the city's e-motorcycle notice. E-motorcycles are banned from all Draper sidewalks. The Draper Police Department said it would enforce those rules.

Angela Wright, owner of Bingham Cyclery, told KUTV that many parents are confused about the difference between e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Devices that exceed 20 mph without pedaling or have more than 750 watts of power are classified as e-motorcycles under state law and require a driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement.

"They don't understand that these bikes are a vehicle," Wright said.

Hospital data

In 2025, Intermountain Health emergency rooms treated 536 e-bike and e-scooter injuries statewide, according to the Utah Highway Safety Office. Only 38% of e-bike trauma patients were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Dr. Katie Russell, a pediatric trauma surgeon at Primary Children's Hospital, told Fox 13 in August that roughly one out of three traumas the hospital was seeing involved an e-bike or e-scooter.

Sgt. Aymee Race of the Unified Police Department encouraged parents to contact their local police department with questions about a device their child wants to ride. The Utah Highway Safety Office maintains a full breakdown of rules and device classifications at highwaysafety.utah.gov/ebikes.