Girl, 14, suffered awful facial injuries after deciding to take friend's e-bike for a spin

Published: 19:01, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 19:26, 6 August 2026 A Los Angeles teenager who narrowly survived an electric bicycle crash has spoken out about the dangers of riding e-bikes. Raquel Waters, 14 at the time of the accident, has only just fully recovered from critical injuries to recount the harrowing moment that almost took her life. 'Only thing I remember is waking up in the hospital, having my jaw wired shut,' the teen said.  'I had staples in the side of my head, my hair was like in a big rat's nest.' Andrea Rankin said her daughter's life was most likely saved by the helmet she was wearing on August 26, 2025.  She recalled receiving a phone call from Raquel's friend, saying she'd been in a harrowing crash on the bike. 'I picked up the phone and she said, "Rocky's been in an accident, and the ambulance is here to take her,"' Rankin told ABC 7. 'She went flying over the handlebars at a really high speed, and if she wasn't wearing a helmet, she would've probably not made it.' Teenager, Raquel Waters, 15, warns of the dangers of e-bikes after suffering severe injuries in a crash in 2025 'I had staples in the side of my head, my hair was like in a big rat's nest.' Andrea Rankin said her daughter's life was most likely saved by the helmet she was wearing Waters, now 15, said the experience changed her view on e-bikes, saying she would 'absolutely not' ride one again. Dr Ryan Spurrier, director of surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, told the outlet that injuries involving e-bikes have been spiking. 'I think we're projecting to be about 700% more than we saw just three years ago,' Spurrier said.  The injuries can be head to toe, and include examples of traumatic brain injuries, liver lacerations and broken bones.   Spurrier claimed parents play a significant part in preventing accidents. 'The common sense dictates that if you wouldn't let your child ride a motorcycle, don't buy them an e-bike,' he said. Officials have also highlighted the risks e-bikes pose to pedestrians.  In April, 81-year-old Ed Ashman was killed after being struck by an e-bike ridden by a 14-year-old in Lake Forest.  Waters, now 15, said the experience changed her view on e-bikes, saying she would 'absolutely not' ride one again Aliza Nichols, founder of a nonprofit organization focused on e-bike safety said emphasizing safe riding practices is the solution, not banning e-bikes altogether Aliza Nichols, founder of the nonprofit organization It NEEDS to END, said a lack of experience is a major factor in accidents and crashes.  'These kids get them and assume they know what they're doing. But truthfully, they have no training on two wheels with a motor at all,' she said. Nichols, who comes from a family of motorcycle riders, said emphasizing safe riding practices is the solution, not banning e-bikes altogether. 'If you like being on two wheels, you just love doing it. I just think they need to know how to do it safe.'  It NEEDS to END is a youth prevention nonprofit focused on providing mental health support workshops along with e-bike safety education.   As children head back to school, some Los Angeles school districts are requiring e-bike riders to complete safety training and wear helmets specifically for motorized bicycles. Standard bicycle helmets do not meet the requirements.