A boy, 13, on an e-bike is killed by an Amtrak train; The SoCal community is mourning
A Simi Valley community is mourning the loss of a 13-year-old, who, while riding an e-bike, was struck and killed by an Amtrak train — among the latest incidents in Southern California involving two electric bikes that have resulted in serious or fatal injuries.
Authorities have not yet arrested the 13-year-old, but the non-profit youth baseball organization Simi Youth Baseball said on Instagram that it was mourning the loss of one of its players, Reis Beck, “who was more than a talented player, a beloved son, brother, teammate and true friend to many.”
Local police said a student from the Simi Valley Unified School District was riding a “two-wheeler” near the Amtrak train tracks at Sequoia and Los Angeles avenues on the northeast edge of the community on Saturday.
In their initial investigation, authorities found that the 13-year-old failed to stop in time at the cross and was hit by a passing train.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, the child died as a result of the injuries,” said a police statement.
Simi Youth Baseball said on its website that Beck's passion for the game “was evident every time he stepped on the field, but it was his kindness, his strength and his unforgettable smile that made him truly special.”
Beck's father, Landon Beck, spoke to KTLA 5 and said his 13-year-old son is one of four boys and loves sports.
“He played rough, he loved sports, he loved competition,” Beck said. “He, like all our boys, also had a sensitive side – he had a keen sense of the mind and the ability to read emotions.”
The Times tried to contact the Beck family but did not receive a response prior to publication.
Simi Valley Police said, whether on bicycles, e-bikes or other motorized vehicles, riders need to “always be alert and use caution near roadways and railroad crossings.”
“Always obey posted signs, stop when necessary, and make sure it is safe to proceed before crossing the tracks,” the Police Department said in a statement. “Taking a moment to be aware can help prevent devastating incidents like this.”
Incidents involving e-bikes have made headlines in recent months.
A Yorba Linda teenager was seriously injured riding an e-bike that was converted into an e-motorcycle with the help of his father. This 12-year-old boy ran a red light at an intersection and was hit by a Honda Civic in July. Last month, the father, Richard John Eyssallenne, 39, pleaded not guilty to one count of child endangerment and abuse and one count of disorderly conduct for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If convicted, Eyssallenne faces up to six years in state prison.
In one incident in Orange County, a 14-year-old boy “wheeling” near a high school on an e-motorcycle hit an 81-year-old man who authorities said was a “Vietnam War veteran who worked as a substitute teacher.”
The mother of a 14-year-old child was arrested this month and is facing charges related to her child's use of an electric motorcycle. He was charged with child endangerment and felony battery after a felony, as well as counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, lending a vehicle to an unlicensed driver and giving false information to an officer.
