A Sunny Isles teenager has been arrested and charged with causing the death this month of a 54-year-old bike rider on the Rickenbacker Causeway.
A 14-year-old boy from Sunny Isles Beach who was riding an electric dirt bike earlier this month on the Rickenbacker Causeway has been charged in connection with the death of a man on a Friday night bike ride with his wife, according to Miami Police.
Fabian Moses was hit from behind and thrown from his bike as he was climbing the William Powell Bridge in the designated bike lane at approximately 8:30 p.m. on August 15, police said.
As he fell to the ground, Moses struck the concrete barrier that divides the eastbound bike lane from the sidewalk. His wife, who was riding behind him, called 911, and Moses was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center, where he died later that evening.
The teenager was arrested the following Thursday after voluntarily surrendering to police. He has been charged with a third-degree felony for operating a vehicle without a license causing death or serious injury.
At the time of the crash, the boy was riding in the eastbound bike lane of the causeway with a group of juvenile dirt bikers heading toward Key Biscayne.
According to a witness, the boy rear-ended Moses after speeding to the front of the group. Both riders were thrown to the ground, and Moses began bleeding from his nose and ears, according to the arrest report. The boy suffered a skull fracture.
The youth, who the Spotlight is not naming because of his age, was operating a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee dirt bike at the time of the crash. The electric bike can reach speeds of up to 59 mph, and accelerate from 0 to 31 mph in just two seconds. The bike retails for $8,000.
These types of bikes are not permitted in bike lanes or any roadway unless registered and properly equipped for road safety. Their use on roads also requires a valid license.
The bike the boy was riding was not registered in the state of Florida, and the boy himself, a citizen of the United Kingdom, did not possess a valid Florida ID card or driver’s license, police said.
There have been eight bike deaths on the Rickenbacker Causeway since 2010, with this being the only death involving a dirt bike. All other fatalities involved cars.
I saw these same emoto drivers blatantly running the red light at the intersection of McFarlane and Grand Avenue the same night as this fatality. As we were headed home from dinner about 8:15 p.m. a group of these kids ran the light while headed eastbound toward South Bayshore Drive. The fatality happened at 8:20, so I have to assume it was the same group of kids. I had to scream at my husband to stop because he didn’t see them in the near darkness, not to mention many were dressed in black and did not have any lights. I remember thinking that these kids had a death wish as they were riding wheelies through the intersection even as oncoming traffic began to cut off their path through their red light. Looking back, I wish I had called the police at the time. I’m so sorry for the person who died.
A question: what is the law regarding e-bikes on bike lanes or the Commodore Trail? Are they allowed? At what speed? What types are allowed?
This young man was driving a dirt bike. It just happened to be driven by electric power. In any case, it should’ve never been in the bike lane. You can’t penalize responsible, electric bicycle riders for what this young man did. It would be like driving your car in the bike lane! Sorry for the loss of this gentleman because of negligence, but he didn’t die in vain. It’s gonna clarify this issue and hopefully eliminated any future casualties!