Tigard High School sophomore dies in e-bicycle crash
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A high school student died Wednesday after apparently being in a crash while riding an e-bicycle, authorities said.
The Tualatin Police Department said they responded to a report of a passerby finding a dead person by the side of the road on SW 124th Avenue near Myslony Street in Tualatin.
Officers arrived to find the person "laying on the ground near a tree, with an e-bike nearby." The person was later determined to be a male sophomore from Tigard High School, officials said.
"As a result of their investigation, officers determined that the e-bicyclist may have lost control of the e-bike, which led to him hitting the curb and then a tree," the Tualatin Police Department said in a release. "E-bikes are capable of traveling at speeds up to 35 mph. The e-bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. There is no indication any other vehicles were involved."
Dan Jette told KOIN 6 News he saw at least six police cars and a drone overhead as he drove into work Wednesday morning.
"They had cones out," Jette said. "I thought maybe, you know, somebody got hit on a bicycle."
The accident, which occurred along Southwest 124th Avenue roughly four miles away from the high school, happened before sunrise.
"I see plenty of pedestrians and cyclists on this road, pretty much on both sides and at all hours," said Andrew Mestre, a professional driver. "Just heartbreaking you know, that's extremely young, who knows what phone calls are being made, that's everyone's worst nightmare."
Police haven't released the name of the teen who died and they're investigating how he could've lost control.
Students at Tigard High School told KOIN 6 News that the school hadn't informed them about his death. However, employees at the school said they're holding off until the family is notified.
The investigation also brought the response of the Washington County CART and Tigard Police. The stretch of road near where the crash happened was closed down for two hours while the investigation took place, officials said.