Princeton middle school student dies following e-moto collision

A middle school student has died following his collision with a motor vehicle two days prior, according to a Tuesday morning press release from the Princeton Police Department. The crash remains under investigation by the police department’s Serious Collision Response Team and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. 

An email to the Princeton Public School community from Superintendent Mike LaSusa, sent early Tuesday morning, identified the student as Abraham Abed. As reported by TAPinto Princeton, the email shared that Princeton Middle School will be initiating “crisis protocols,” with counseling support from both the school district and the Mercer Counter Traumatic Loss Coalition. 

The collision occurred on Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Ewing Street and Terhune Road, when the e-moto Abed was riding reportedly collided with an eastbound motor vehicle on Terhune Road while travelling northbound on Ewing Street. The Princeton Fire Department, the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, and the Princeton Police Department responded to the scene, whereupon Abed was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

According to Google Streetview, traffic on Ewing Street has a stop sign at the intersection, while cars on Terhune Road do not.

The area surrounding the incident was closed for “approximately three and a half hours” while the preliminary investigation was ongoing.

Under currently enforced New Jersey law, “class 3” high-speed e-bikes, known as motorized bicycles, are banned for those aged 15 and under. There are no age restrictions for lower-speed e-bikes. A new law signed in January, which mandates compliance by July 19, will require all operators of e-bikes be at least 15 years old, have a license, and have proper registration with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission.

Earlier this month, the University announced that e-bikes will be prohibited on the majority of campus beginning on June 1. This policy will go into place over a month before the new statewide restrictions on e-bikes are officially imposed. Currently, in Princeton municipality, e-bikes cannot be ridden on sidewalks and can only accelerate up to 20 mph.

The specific type of e-moto used by Abed has not been disclosed.

Last winter, a pedestrian was struck by a car while crossing Nassau Street at a marked sidewalk. Earlier this month, a male University student on a bike was trapped under a motor vehicle for over 20 minutes after a collision on campus, to which the University’s Department of Public Safety responded.

A representative from the Princeton Police Department declined to comment on whether legal action will be taken against the individual operating the motor vehicle. Under New Jersey statute, the operator could be charged with reckless vehicular homicide, if it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual who was operating the motor vehicle was driving recklessly, and that the death would not have occurred had the driver not struck.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the juvenile’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss. This is an incredibly difficult time for the family and the broader community, and we ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve,” the release stated.

Luke Grippo is a head News editor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from South Jersey, and typically covers high-profile interviews and University and town politics. He can be reached at luke.grippo[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.