Two Teens Die After E-Scooter and E-Motorcycle Crash in Riverside
Two 14-year-old boys have died from injuries suffered after they were struck by a vehicle while riding an electric scooter and an electric motorcycle through a Riverside intersection.
The August 25, 2026 collision occurred near Arlington Avenue and Mitchell Avenue. Both teenagers were originally hospitalized with major injuries. Riverside police confirmed this week that both later died.
DAG Law Firm, APC represents people and families in serious and fatal traffic accident cases throughout California. We handle qualifying personal injury and wrongful death matters on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront attorney fees and you do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case. Call (323) 930-2020 to discuss your situation.
What Happened at Arlington and Mitchell Avenues in Riverside?
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, Riverside police confirmed that the two teenagers died after suffering major injuries in the August 25 collision.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:46 p.m. at Arlington Avenue and Mitchell Avenue near Rosemary Kennedy Elementary School.
The Riverside Police Department said one teenager was riding an e-scooter and the other was riding an e-motorcycle.
According to the department’s preliminary investigation, the two riders were traveling southbound on Mitchell Avenue and attempting to cross the intersection when they were struck by a Lexus traveling westbound on Arlington Avenue.
Both teenagers were initially transported to a hospital with major injuries.
CBS Los Angeles reported that the driver remained at the scene, was interviewed by investigators, and was not injured.
No arrests had been announced in the latest reporting.
The collision remains under investigation, and authorities have not publicly announced a final determination regarding fault.
Why E-Scooter and E-Motorcycle Crashes Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
People riding scooters, motorcycles, e-bikes, and similar vehicles have significantly less physical protection than occupants of passenger cars.
Unlike someone inside a vehicle, a rider generally does not have a surrounding passenger compartment, airbags, or other structural protection during a collision.
Serious injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Facial injuries
- Severe road rash
- Crush injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- Fatal injuries
Intersections can be particularly dangerous because drivers and riders may be traveling in different directions while attempting to cross, turn, or proceed through the same space.
How Is Fault Determined After an Intersection Collision?
The fact that a vehicle struck a rider does not, by itself, establish who was legally responsible.
Investigators may need to determine what each person was doing immediately before the collision.
Relevant evidence can include:
- Traffic signals
- Right-of-way information
- Vehicle speed
- Rider speed
- Visibility
- Lighting conditions
- Driver and rider attention
- Surveillance footage
- Dashcam video
- Witness statements
- Vehicle damage
- Roadway evidence
- Electronic vehicle data
In this case, police reported that the teenagers were attempting to cross Arlington Avenue when the collision occurred.
That fact alone does not establish who had the right of way or who was responsible for the crash.
The Riverside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing to investigate.
Why Surveillance and Intersection Evidence May Be Important
Serious crashes at intersections can sometimes be reconstructed using evidence from several different sources.
Nearby schools, businesses, residences, traffic systems, and vehicles may have cameras capable of capturing events before or during a collision.
Video evidence may potentially establish:
- The position of each vehicle
- Traffic-signal phases
- Direction of travel
- Approximate speed
- When riders entered the intersection
- Whether braking occurred
- Visibility conditions
- The sequence of impact
Physical evidence from the vehicles and roadway can also help investigators reconstruct the crash.
Because surveillance systems may automatically overwrite older recordings, identifying and preserving available footage as early as possible can be important.
Can Families Bring a Wrongful Death Claim After a Traffic Accident?
When someone dies because of injuries suffered in a traffic collision, certain surviving family members may potentially have rights under California wrongful death law.
A wrongful death claim may seek compensation for losses resulting from the death, depending on the particular facts and applicable law.
Potential issues can include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of household services
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of guidance and support
A separate survival claim may sometimes involve losses or damages belonging to the person who died before death.
Whether either type of claim is available depends on the circumstances, evidence, applicable law, and who is legally entitled to bring the action.
Learn more about DAG Law Firm’s California wrongful death representation.
Does a Rider’s Conduct Automatically Prevent a Family From Bringing a Claim?
Not necessarily.
California personal injury and wrongful death cases may involve comparative fault.
This means an investigation can examine the conduct of everyone involved rather than treating responsibility as necessarily all-or-nothing.
Depending on the evidence, questions could include whether:
- A driver had sufficient time to see the riders
- Either party had the right of way
- Speed contributed to the collision
- Visibility was limited
- Traffic controls were followed
- Either party had an opportunity to avoid the crash
Even when an injured person may have contributed to an accident, that does not necessarily resolve whether another person also bears some responsibility.
No final allocation of fault has been publicly announced in the Riverside investigation.
Why the Police Investigation Matters
Riverside Police’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and assumed responsibility for investigating the collision.
A serious or fatal crash investigation may involve:
- Measurements from the roadway
- Vehicle inspections
- Witness interviews
- Video evidence
- Vehicle data
- Traffic-control information
- Photographs
- Physical debris
- Toxicology information when appropriate
CBS reported that police initially said it was unknown whether drugs or alcohol played any role in the crash.
It is important not to interpret that statement as an indication that impairment occurred. It simply reflected that investigators had not made a determination at that stage.
What Should Families Preserve After a Serious Traffic Collision?
After a catastrophic or fatal accident, evidence preservation can become important even while a police investigation is underway.
Potentially relevant information can include:
- Police reports
- Photographs and video
- Surveillance footage
- Witness information
- Vehicle data
- Medical records
- Insurance correspondence
- Damaged vehicles or riding equipment
- Helmets and protective equipment
- Electronic communications or location data when relevant
Families should also be cautious about signing insurance releases before understanding what rights may be affected.
How Long Do California Wrongful Death Claims Have to Be Filed?
California wrongful death lawsuits generally have a two-year filing deadline, although exceptions can shorten or extend the applicable period.
Different and much shorter deadlines can apply when a government or public entity may potentially bear responsibility. In some circumstances, a government claim must be presented within six months.
Nothing in the available reporting establishes that the City of Riverside, a school, another public agency, or any other government entity bears responsibility for this collision.
Even when a formal deadline appears distant, evidence may disappear much sooner.
How DAG Law Firm Can Help After a Fatal Traffic Accident
Fatal traffic collisions can require investigation of police records, witnesses, surveillance footage, vehicles, insurance coverage, roadway evidence, and the sequence of events immediately before impact.
DAG Law Firm can evaluate the available evidence and determine whether the circumstances support a wrongful death or other civil claim.
DAG Law Firm, APC represents people and families in qualifying serious injury and wrongful death matters throughout California.
Learn more about our California car accident representation and wrongful death practice.
If your family has lost a loved one in a California traffic accident, call (323) 930-2020 to discuss the circumstances.
You do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case. DAG Law Firm handles qualifying personal injury and wrongful death matters on a contingency fee basis with no upfront attorney fees.
This article is based on information released by the Riverside Police Department and publicly available reporting concerning the August 25, 2026 collision and the September 15 report that both teenage riders later died from their injuries. The investigation remains ongoing, and reported facts may change as additional information becomes available. Nothing in the currently available information establishes negligence, criminal wrongdoing, or the final allocation of civil responsibility by the driver, the riders, a public entity, or any other person or entity. DAG Law Firm, APC does not represent anyone identified in the reports and has omitted the victims’ names for privacy. This article is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only.
