World · North America · 2 hrs ago
California parents charged after 13-year-old dies in electric motorcycle crash
Benson Nguyen, 13, died after crashing an electric motorcycle in Garden Grove, California, in May.
Prosecutors say he was travelling about 35mph when he hit a raised divider and was thrown into a concrete light pole.
The E-Ride Pro SS 2.0 can reach 55mph and is classified as a motorcycle under California law, which prosecutors say requires riders to be at least 16 and licensed.
His father faces felony child endangerment charges, while his mother faces a misdemeanor child endangerment charge; the father also faces a misdemeanor charge of contributing to a minor’s delinquency.
Prosecutors allege the parents let Benson continue riding despite warnings and earlier injuries, and that he had posted videos of himself riding, including doing wheelies.
The charges put the parents’ alleged decisions before the courts; if convicted on all counts, the father faces up to six years in state prison.
A 13-year-old boy died after crashing an electric motorcycle in Garden Grove, California, and his parents have been charged.
Prosecutors allege the parents allowed Benson Nguyen to ride the motorcycle despite warnings and previous injuries.
His father, Vu Thanh Nguyen, faces felony child endangerment and misdemeanor charges, while his mother, Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, faces a misdemeanor child endangerment charge.
The E-Ride Pro SS 2.0 can reach speeds of 55mph or more and is classified as a motorcycle under California law, according to prosecutors.
- Who
- Benson Nguyen, 13, died in the crash. His parents, Vu Thanh Nguyen and Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, have been charged.
- What
- Nguyen died after his electric motorcycle crashed into a raised divider and he was thrown into a concrete light pole. Prosecutors allege his parents allowed him to ride it despite warnings and previous injuries.
- When
- The crash happened in May. The charges were announced by the time of the article’s publication on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Magnolia Street in Garden Grove, California.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege his parents allowed him to ride a motorcycle he was too young to legally operate.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Benson Nguyen crashed his electric motorcycle on Magnolia Street in Garden Grove and later died at UC Irvine Medical Center.
The Daily Mail reported that Nguyen’s parents faced criminal charges.
- Age at death
- 13
- Crash location
- Magnolia Street, Garden Grove, California
- Motorcycle model
- E-Ride Pro SS 2.0
- Motorcycle top speed
- 55mph or more
- Father’s potential prison term
- Up to six years if convicted on all counts
What people are saying
Grief does not erase the decisions that were made by Benson’s parents to continue to allow their untrained and unlicensed 13-year-old to illegally ride an E-Moto after repeated warnings and repeated injuries