12-year-old boy critically hurt in e-bike crash

A 12-year-old boy is in a medically-induced coma after he was hit by a car while riding his e-bike in southern California. 

That crash happened in San Diego County, and loved ones say they are still hopeful.

“To be honest with you, it kind of feels like a fever dream,” the boy’s uncle Bijan Sabouri said.

Sabouri calls the past week a surreal nightmare for his family. 

“It’s tough sometimes to make sense of things that happen, especially when it happens to young children.”

Sabouri says his nephew, Mark, was on his e-bike on Del Mar Heights Road. Police say he was trying to make a left turn onto Old Carmel Valley Road, he was struck by a Tesla heading in the same direction, throwing off the bike.

“The impact of that windshield essentially had caused his helmet to come off, which is then he had an impact with the ground,” Sabouri said.”

Mark was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening trauma, and underwent surgery to relieve the pressure in his brain. He remains in a medically-induced coma. But in the past few days, signs of hope.

“When they tried weaning him off the sedation, he was having some movement in his extremities, like his hands and then his feet, which is a very good sign,” Sabouri said.

Sabouri says long-term impact on Mark’s brain function remains unknown. The investigation into the collision remains ongoing.

Sabouri recalls Mark, who got an e-bike more than a year ago and rode it to school, as a careful rider who always wore his helmet.

As his family keeps vigil at his bedside, the community is rallying around Mark, a student at Ashley Falls Elementary. A GoFundMe campaign set up by his school community, including PTA moms.

“They’ve come and dropped off food, they have checked in on the family members,” Sabouri said. “I really don’t know if we would be where we are mentally and emotionally if it wasn’t for the support.”

Sabouri says along with that support, the family is leaning on their faith.

“We’ve been thanking God for even being able to see Mark and be on the road to recovery with him,” Sabouri said. “We appreciate anyone that would keep him in their thoughts and their prayers.”