A 14-year-old boy operating an e-moto died from injuries he suffered in a crash with an SUV late Tuesday in Wauconda.
Wauconda Fire District officials said they responded to the crash scene on the 500 block of North Main Street just before 10 p.m. and found the operator of “an electronic dirt bike” on the ground with life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred near Wauconda High School. The e-moto and a 2025 Honda Pilot both sustained significant damage, fire officials said.
The teen was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Fire officials said the boy died at the hospital. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Pilot was occupied by a 44-year-old female driver and an adult female passenger, according to Wauconda police.
Neither was injured. The driver is cooperating with the investigation and no charges have been filed, according to police.
North Main Street was closed for several hours in both directions as part of the investigation.
“Any time a young life is lost, it has a profound impact on an entire community,” Wauconda Police Chief John Combs said in a news release.
Wauconda police referred to the vehicle the teen was operating as an e-moto. New state laws regulating the use of e-motos, which have no pedals like an e-bike, don’t go into effect until the start of the new year and would require a driver’s license.
“As e-motos and other similar electric vehicles become more common on our roadways, we urge parents and riders to understand their capabilities, follow traffic laws, wear proper safety equipment and recognize the serious risks involved,” Combs added.
Anyone with information about the crash should call police at (847) 526-2421.