A 14-year-old girl injured riding an e-bicycle that collided with a minivan

A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured Friday evening when the electric bicycle she was riding collided with a minivan on Route 40, according to local police.

The crash occurred around 5:50 p.m. near Walmart Drive in the township’s Mays Landing section.

New Jersey’s comprehensive e-bike legislation, signed into law on Jan. 19, 2026, and taking full effect on July 19, 2026, requires operators to be at least 15 years old.

According to the Hamilton Township Police Department, the teenager, a Mays Landing resident, was traveling eastbound along the shoulder of Route 40—also known as Harding Highway—when she crossed into the eastbound traffic lane.

She then collided with a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Brian Portnoy, 65, of Egg Harbor Township.

Emergency responders from the Township of Hamilton Rescue Squad arrived at the scene along with volunteer firefighters from Cologne, Laureldale, and Mays Landing.

Paramedics treated the girl and transported her to the nearby Hamilton Mall parking lot, where they established a makeshift landing zone.

A New Jersey State Police medevac helicopter airlifted the victim to the trauma unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center – City Division in Atlantic City with serious injuries.

Police said Portnoy remained at the scene following the collision. Police have not issued any traffic summonses or charges as the incident remains under investigation.

Strict New E-Bike Regulations Under Scrutiny

The crash highlights ongoing enforcement and safety challenges surrounding New Jersey’s comprehensive e-bike legislation, which took full effect on July 19, 2026.

Signed into law on Jan. 19, 2026, the framework was enacted to curb a surge in motorized crashes involving youth across the state.

Key provisions of the law include:

• Minimum Age & Licensing Requirements: All operators must be at least 15 years old. Riders aged 15 and 16 must pass knowledge, vision, and road tests to obtain a dedicated E-Bike/Motorized Bicycle License or Permit from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), and minors must have parental consent. Drivers aged 17 and older must possess a valid state driver’s license or motorized bicycle license. An exception applies to renters of low-speed e-bikes aged 16 and older.
• Statewide Registration: E-bikes must be registered through the NJ MVC (Form BA-49EB) and display license plate stickers. To encourage compliance, the state temporarily waived registration and exam fees through January 2027.
• Insurance Mandates: Low-speed, pedal-assist e-bikes capped at 20 mph require no insurance, while faster motorized bicycles and mopeds reaching 21 to 28 mph require mandatory liability insurance.
• Road Rules & Helmets: Under state law, all e-bike riders are required to wear helmets certified under NTA 8776 standards. E-bikes are strictly banned from sidewalks, divided four-lane highways, turnpikes, and roads with speed limits exceeding 50 mph. Additionally, passengers are forbidden on motorized bicycles, and online sales of over-750W motorized vehicles exceeding 28 mph face strict restrictions.