A man crashed a high-speed e-bike while fleeing police in Sydney, sustaining serious injuries and prompting new safety measures.

A 39-year-old man is in critical but stable condition after crashing an e-bike into a pole in Sydney’s Sadleir while allegedly fleeing police. Officers attempted to stop him without a helmet around 11pm on Saturday; he was riding a motor-only, pedal-less e-bike that exceeded legal speed limits. The crash, which occurred close to officers, caused serious injuries requiring surgery. Police are investigating under both internal standards and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, with both officers tested for drugs and alcohol. The incident highlights growing concerns over e-bike safety in NSW, where trauma centers report a sharp rise in injuries and at least five e-bike-related deaths in 2025. In response, the state plans to equip police with portable testing devices to enforce the 25 km/h speed limit and allow seizure and crushing of illegal e-bikes.