At about 10:15 p.m. on Monday, an e‑bike rider at West Warner Avenue and South Raitt Street in Santa Ana was struck by a sedan that ran a red light and fled the scene. Video provided to KTLA shows the cyclist launched into the air; he was hospitalized with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries. A nearby pickup driver stayed to help while police ask the public to check dashcam or doorbell footage to help identify the fleeing vehicle. Authorities note that leaving the scene of an accident causing injury is a felony in California.
E‑Bike Rider Launched Into the Air After Sedan Runs Red Light in Santa Ana — Survives, Driver Flees
Image Credit: KTLA 5 / YouTube.
Monday night at about 10:15 p.m., an e‑bike rider crossing West Warner Avenue near South Raitt Street in Santa Ana was struck by a sedan that ran a red light, launching the cyclist into the air and scattering pieces of the bike across the intersection. The sedan did not slow and fled the scene.
Video provided to KTLA by witness Andrea Mendoza shows the rider waiting for the signal, beginning to cross when the light changed and the sedan sped through the intersection. The footage underscores how quickly a routine crossing can become dangerous.
Injuries and response: The rider, identified only as an adult male, was taken to a hospital with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries. One nearby pickup driver pulled over, blocked oncoming traffic and stayed with the injured rider while someone called for emergency help — a prompt contrast to the driver who left the scene.
Investigation and appeal: Santa Ana police have not announced any arrests. Under California law, leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury is a felony, and investigators are asking anyone who was near Warner and Raitt on Monday night to check dashcam or doorbell camera footage that may identify the fleeing vehicle.
Context: Electric bicycles have become more common across Southern California, often traveling at speeds comparable to mopeds. That rising presence has led to more near‑misses at intersections as drivers may not anticipate a fast‑moving bicycle. Whether that dynamic played a role in this crash is not yet known.
Safety takeaway: A green light grants permission but not certainty. Many experienced drivers pause briefly before entering intersections to confirm other road users see and obey their signals. The proliferation of dashcams and street cameras also increases the likelihood that hit‑and‑run drivers will be identified.
If you have video from the area or witnessed the collision, contact Santa Ana police — your footage could be crucial to the investigation.
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