Man killed in electric bike crash in Riverhead
The crash comes after the town passed stricter e-bike regulations earlier this summer.
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A man was killed in an e-bike crash in Riverhead last night, police said.
Officers responded to Roanoke Plaza at 1080 Old Country Rd. just after 5:30 p.m.
Investigators said they found John Sanmartino, 54, unconscious, in traumatic arrest, lying in the rear of the Ross parking lot.
Riverhead police said Sanmartino was operating an electric bicycle and collided into a chain link fence along the western tree line. He was not wearing a helmet, according to officials.
Sanmartino was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he died.
This has become the latest serious incident on Long Island involving e-bikes.
Last month, Riverhead began actively enforcing stricter e-bike regulations that the town board approved earlier this summer. The town said it found that the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters, particularly by young operators, presents a significant public safety concern for riders, pedestrians and motorists.
The law includes age requirements, mandatory helmets, speed restrictions and bans certain classes of e-bikes.
Earlier this year, Suffolk County police said the department was cracking down on e-bikes as well.
Riverhead police is asking anyone who may have witnessed last night's fatal crash to contact the department at 631-727-4500 as part of the ongoing investigation.
