A 14-year-old boy has died after being hit by a four-wheel drive while riding his electric bike in Melbourne’s outer north-east.
Victoria Police said they were called to Chute Street in Diamond Creek about 10pm on Monday and found the teenager seriously injured.
A boy, 14, has died after being hit by a four-wheel drive while riding his electric bike in Diamond Creek.Credit: Nine News
He was treated but died at the scene.
The 4WD driver, a 22-year-old man from Eltham North, was interviewed and released pending further inquiries.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Thirty motorcyclists and eight cyclists have been killed on Melbourne roads in 2025, while the road toll stands at 268 statewide, two less than this time last year.
The spread of electric bikes and concern about increasing crashes have prompted recent moves across Australia to toughen regulations.
New South Wales’ state opposition has pledged to compel certain riders to have licence plates if elected in 2027.
Queensland is also considering whether legal electric bikes and scooters should be registered.
In Victoria, a coroner recommended in July that authorities consider the “radical” measure of requiring all e-bikes to be registered following the death of Nitin Prabhu on Mont Albert Road.
The 41-year-old crashed an e-bike he bought interstate which was illegal under stricter rules in Victoria.
There is no suggestion that the electric bicycle involved in Monday’s collision at Diamond Creek was illegal.
Officials from the Department of Transport and Victoria Police met to discuss e-bike regulation in September, but told the coroner in October that they decided against a registration scheme.
Fiona Green, acting executive director of Road Safety Victoria, said it would be too complex and costly.
Premier Jacinta Allan, speaking on Tuesday, offered her condolences to the family of the 14-year-old who died on Monday night, but declined to comment further on e-bike regulation.
“We’ve signalled that there needs to be stronger rules around the use of e-bikes by already changing laws and regulation,” she said.
“I’ll seek some further advice around the circumstances here and just not comment any further, given there is a family that is grieving the loss of their beautiful 14-year-old.”
With Kieran Rooney
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in National
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
