Teenager riding illegal minibike critically injured in violent crash in Santa Ana

A teenager riding an illegal minibike was critically injured during a violent crash in Santa Ana on Monday.

The crash happened at around 7:30 p.m. near Oak Street and McFadden Avenue, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. 

Circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear, but officers say that the victim, only identified as a male teenager, was rushed to a nearby hospital. 

On Tuesday, SAPD investigators say that the boy, a middle schooler, remained in critical condition but that he was expected to make a recovery.

"He's in critical condition at the hospital, his family's with him right now," said Officer Natalie Garcia. "Doctors do believe that he's gonna, you know, be able to push through, which is very fortunate. But, he is gonna have a long road to recovery."

Officers say that the teen was riding an e-bike or a makeshift motorcycle when they crashed with a car. The driver of that vehicle remained at the scene to cooperate with the police investigation. 

They say that she was not cited, as she was making a legal turn when the teen slammed into her. 

Ron Tellez, who saw the teen just moments before the crash, said that he was speeding down the middle of the McFadden Avenue. 

"This little bike passed me on the center lane, not in the drive lanes, he was darting in and out of traffic," Tellez said. "He was moving, he must have been 30, 40 miles an hour. He was going."

He says that once he saw the way the teenager was driving, he instantly became concerned about what may happen. 

"As soon as I saw the little bike, the helmet, he was in pain obviously," Tellez said. "I could see him gasping for air, he wasn't moving."

This is the latest instance in a string of incidents that has local law enforcement concerned, urging parents to make sure they're aware of how their kids use the bikes to get around. 

"We do recognize that there's an uptick in these minibikes, they've become very popular," Garcia said. "However, regardless if it's a 13-year-old like this incident or an adult, they're illegal. So, they're not to be ridden on the roadway."

SkyCal flew over the spot of the crash, where the bike could still be seen laying in the street late Monday evening, hours after the crash first happened.