Two high school students in Orange County were seriously injured when a single-person e-bike they were riding together crashed into a brick wall Tuesday afternoon.

The unidentified students from Brea Canyon High School were riding on the State College Boulevard sidewalk near Avocado Street around 2:15 p.m. when their handlebar clipped a tree and they were sent into the wall, the Brea Police Department stated.

Neither of the riders was wearing a helmet and they were believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed, police said.

Good Samaritans were the first to find the two injured riders and were providing medical aid when officers arrived.

“The rider suffered significant, life-threatening injuries. The passenger also
suffered major injuries. Both were taken to a local trauma center for treatment,” police said.

No further details regarding the injuries were provided but the Brea Olinda Unified School District stated that counselors and staff will be offered as support to the students and their families as they recover.

Brea police also extended “their thoughts and support to the family and friends of the injured.” Police also said they were grateful for the passers-by who stopped to help the riders.

“This incident highlights the dangers of e-bike collisions and the importance of safe riding practices, such as riding in designated areas and wearing helmets,” police said.

The city of Brea recently enacted an ordinance prohibiting the riding of e-bikes on sidewalks, riding in an unsafe manner and carrying passengers on e-bikes designed for single riders.

A wrong-way driver was arrested after he allegedly ran over a police officer’s foot with his car while forcing his way into a Palisades Fire evacuation area.

On Jan. 13, Walter William Larkins, 37, a Malibu resident, was reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road on Ocean Avenue heading toward Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica at around 6:45 a.m.

Larkins, who was driving a green Toyota Highlander, was reportedly seen following National Guard vehicles toward an area that was closed to traffic and open to emergency vehicles only, police said.

A Santa Monica officer motioned for Larkins to stop, but he ignored the request and continued driving through the checkpoint area, running over the officer’s foot as he fled, police said.

The officer was transported to the hospital with a “soft tissue injury,” officials said.

Other officers were alerted of the breach and the suspect was located through a network of flock cameras (license plate readers).

Police eventually spotted Larkins on the 2200 Block of Pico Boulevard and pulled him over. He was arrested for felony hit-and-run and several vehicle code violations. 

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Raleigh at Evan.Raleigh@santamonica.gov.

The public can also call Santa Monica police’s non-emergency dispatch line at 310-458- 8491 or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.

A 55-year-old Ventura County man out of jail after being arrested for alleged lewd acts inside a high school girls’ locker room and authorities believe there may be additional victims, officials announced Wednesday.  

The Jan. 13 incident unfolded at Newbury Park High School after the victim, only identified as a 15-year-old female student and resident of Thousand Oaks, reported that an unidentified man had been inside the girls’ locker room and performed an unspecified “lewd act in her presence,” a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office stated. 

The sheriff’s office’s East County Sexual Assault Unit launched at the school, located at 456 Reino Road in Newbury Park, along with school administrators.  

“Sheriff’s investigators were able to identify the suspect, James Arthur Silver,” authorities said. “Silver was later located and arrested for Lewd Conduct.” 

It is unclear how the 55-year-old was able to access the girls’ locker room, whether he might be employed by the school, has a child that attends the school or trespassed onto the campus.

Silver was booked into the Ventura County East Sheriff’s Jail and later released. He is due to appear in court in March, officials said.  

Due to the nature of this investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims or witnesses and encourage anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s East County Sexual Assault Unit Sergeant Ray Dominguez at 805-371-8392.  

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.