OREM, Utah (KUTV) — A short trip near home turned into a fight for an Orem teen’s life.
More than three weeks after Kaezden Davis, 14, was struck by a pickup truck while riding his e-bike, he remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Primary Children’s Hospital, his mother, Michelle Pino, told 2News.
Pino said Kaezden had just returned from a doctor’s appointment when he asked for a quick ride to a nearby park. A few minutes later, the police came to his door.
“I just thought, ‘OK, maybe he got in trouble,'” Pino said. “They were going to come and warn me about the bike. And then they told me it had been hit.”
A neighborhood doorbell camera captured the accident on video, according to Pino. She said Kaezden was first taken to a nearby hospital and then transferred to Primary Children’s due to the severity of his injuries.
“Backwards,” Pino replied when asked what his life has been like since the accident. “This is my world sitting in this bed.”
State data shows there were 72 accidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters in Utah in 2026, including six fatalities. Crashes resulting in serious injuries involving children aged 12 and younger increased by more than 250% compared to last year, data shows.
Angela Wright, owner of Bingham Cyclery, said many parents don’t understand the difference between electric bikes and electric motorcycles, or the rules that apply to each. She said her staff regularly explains the classifications to families, especially during the holiday shopping season.
“They don’t understand that these bikes are a vehicle,” Wright said.
Utah law prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from riding a Class 3 electric bicycle. These bikes use pedal assist rather than a throttle and can assist riders up to 28 mph.
The law also requires adult supervision for drivers under the age of 14 when the engine is engaged. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet on public roads.
A Utah law that took effect May 6, 2026, clarifies safety rules for e-bikes and other electric mobility devices, including restrictions on unsafe modifications. The Utah Office of Highway Safety has more information on the law.
Sgt. Aymee Race of Unified Police encouraged parents to contact their local police department if they have questions about a bike their child wants to ride. Race said officers can explain safety concerns and share examples of injuries they have seen.
Pino said she hopes her son’s experience will encourage other families to be careful.
“Tell your children, be careful,” she said. “Tell people to be careful. Be careful. Watch out for children on the road.”
Pino told 2News that Kaezden remains in critical condition, on a ventilator and heavily sedated. His right lung was badly injured and doctors may have to remove part of it if it doesn’t heal. After more than a week on ECMO, he developed pneumonia and a blood clot near the device’s connection site. He is now back on the VDR ventilator.
The family is accepting donations through a GoFundMe campaign.
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Gn Health
