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(InvestigateTV) — The use of “micromobility” — or small vehicles like electric bikes and scooters — has surged over the last decade. Both are considered low-cost and can travel nearly twice the speed of traditional bikes and scooters, reaching 25 mph compared to 15 mph. However, research by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that micromobility vehicles are increasingly becoming more dangerous. Fatal crash devastates Las Vegas family In March 2025, Cat Velasquez was at work when her phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “I was like, who’s this? And she goes. You don’t know me, honey. I’m just calling to tell you that both your kids were hit by a car. They were on their scooters,” Velasquez said. Las Vegas Metro Police say her 22-year-old son, Christopher Soto, and his 14-year-old brother were riding their e-scooters when they went through an intersection and collided with a car. Velasquez sped across town to find out what happened to her sons. “I didn’t know if both my kids were dead. And um when I got there, they had all the streets blocked off,” she said. When she arrived at the hospital, a nurse pulled her into a private room. She was told her youngest son, Carlos, was in bad shape and would need months of rehabilitation. “His injuries, some will heal, some will not. He still has a gouge of his skull, kind of indented. Doctor told him last week that he’ll never give vision again in his eye,” Velasquez said. As for her eldest son, Christopher, he did not survive. “She told me I’m really sorry, but we tried everything. And we could not bring Christopher’s heart rate back,” Velasquez said. Christopher and Carlos are part of a troubling national statistic. Researchers at UC San Francisco report a major national surge in accidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. E-bicycle injuries mostly doubled every year from 2017 to 2022, while e-scooter injuries rose by 45 percent each year. “If you’re on an e-bike and you get in an accident with another vehicle, you’re not going to win that accident,” said Sunny Johnson, a supervisor for Honolulu EMS. Johnson has seen firsthand the harm e-bikes can cause. “People are getting very seriously hurt — ruptured spleens, concussions, facial fractures, deep lacerations,” she said. Higher speeds create greater risks Johnson said riders suffer more severe injuries because of factors like a lack of self-stabilization, uneven acceleration and higher speeds. “It’s even more important when you’re going quicker to be attentive, be aware of your surroundings and ride in a predictable and visible manner,” she said. Malia Harunaga, the Hawaii Bicycling League’s director of adult education, teaches people the proper way to ride. She believes it’s crucial for riders to get to know their e-bike and urges everyone to wear a helmet. “Getting to know the e-bike is crucial. We always advocate getting familiar with that bike before you go riding on the street,” Harunaga said. Police work with schools on education To ensure riders follow the rules of the road, police in Henderson, Nevada, work directly with schools to educate students, parents and staff about the risks and laws. “If your child is operating an electric motorcycle that looks more like a motorcycle and not like a bicycle with pedals, if they’re operating to and from school, it’s going to be an issue,” said Traffic Sgt. Richard Paul. Paul said it’s not just kids who face consequences. Under Nevada law, parents and guardians can also be held liable if their child is caught riding illegally, which means they could face citations. “They don’t really realize what they have their children out operating with,” Paul said. Back in Las Vegas, family and friends built a makeshift memorial in memory of Christopher near the intersection where he lost his life. His heartbroken mother said she drives by daily. On the pavement, the painted outlines of where her sons’ scooters came to rest are still in the road. “I can’t believe it. I cannot believe my son is dead. My Christopher’s gone,” Velasquez said. She said it serves as a painful reminder of the agony of losing her eldest son. As of October 2025, at least 28 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted e-scooter laws, and nearly four dozen have some form of regulation for e-bicycles. These laws and regulations address various aspects of use, including age restrictions, speed limits, designated riding areas and helmets. Submit story tips to our Investigators Share errors or concerns with our Digital Editors Watch full episodes of InvestigateTV+ Subscribe to the InvestigateTV YouTube Channel
