San Juan Capistrano Mother Dies In E-Bike Crash, Children Injured

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — A 36-year-old San Juan Capistrano mother has died after a fatal crash on her e-bike, officials say. Both of her young children were on her bike at the time of the collision, each taken to the hospital with injuries.

Jennifer Lee Macy was driving her e-bike on the San Juan Trail, just beyond the Dana Point border Saturday at 8:30 p.m. when she lost control of her e-bike and crashed into the rocks, Orange County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Todd Hylton says. Her two children riding in a front and rear bike seat, both under the age of 5, were seriously injured in the crash. They were both taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Jennifer Macy's husband witnessed the scene while riding on a separate e-bike, Hylton said.

The Macy family was returning home from Doheny State Beach following the Ohana Festival, according to Hylton.

"She was driving her two children, one in a front child seat, another strapped into a child seat on the back of the motorized bike," Hylton tells Patch. Both children had helmets on while Jennifer Macy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the fatal crash, he said. As of this report, it is not known if alcohol was a factor in the collision.

Both children should fully recover, Hylton told Patch Monday.

This is the first known e-bike fatality in Orange County Sheriff's jurisdiction, according to Hylton. As more residents are riding e-bikes, there are more incidnets and accidents surrounding their use, accordign to Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"We want to remind the public of the dangers of E-bikes," Hylton advised. "Be cautious of speed and surroundings, wear your helmet."