A 13-year-old boy died Thursday evening in a collision involving his electric dirt bike and an SUV in Harlem, police said. The crash occurred at approximately 8:50 p.m. near the intersection of West 112th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, just blocks from the boy’s home in the Taft Houses public housing development.
The boy, identified as Kayvon Jones, was riding a Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket electric dirt bike when the incident took place, authorities reported. According to police, Kayvon was attempting to maneuver around a vehicle that was turning left onto Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard when he swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with a Chevy Tahoe traveling in the opposite direction. He was thrown from the bike, hitting his head on the pavement.
Emergency responders transported Kayvon in critical condition to Harlem Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A 14-year-old passenger who had been riding on the back of the dirt bike sustained a leg injury and was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. Officials described his condition as stable.
Residents of the building where Kayvon lived expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. Charles Davis, 74, who lives in the same building, recalled seeing Kayvon and his friends that day. “He was in a good mood... He enjoyed that bike,” Davis said. Another neighbor, Jackie Stevens, 79, noted that classmates and friends gathered outside the apartment building to pay their respects. “He just became a teenager,” she said. “It’s sad.”
Kayvon’s family had planned to celebrate his recent 13th birthday with a trip to a water park the following day, according to a message posted by his aunt on social media. The aunt expressed disbelief and grief, recalling that they had celebrated his birthday together just days before.
The Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket electric dirt bike reportedly has a manufacturer-discussed top speed of around 14 miles per hour, based on listings found online.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.