E-bike rider dead after crash in El Monte

An electric bicycle rider is dead after being involved in a crash in El Monte on Monday night.

Officers from the El Monte Police Department responded to the area near Richwood Avenue and Bryant Road around 10:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a crash involving an e-bike rider and the driver of another vehicle.

When officers arrived, they found the e-bike rider unresponsive. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but the man was later pronounced dead.

Family members identified the victim as 48-year-old Estaban Martinez, who loved ones knew as Steve. They said he was the father of five children, aged 7 to 30, and a proud grandfather. 

"He was just so loving. He joked around a lot, played with the kids a lot," said Martinez's sister, Josefina. "When we had parties, he was always the one interacting with the kids. The kids loved him; my kids love him."

They say that Martinez had just gotten the e-bike for his birthday recently, and that he had left his home a few blocks from the crash Monday night to visit a friend. 

"It's a deep loss that our family is going to feel," said Martinez's brother, Michael. "We're going to miss our brother. We're going to love him. I'm just so sad to hear what's happened."

Police also made contact with the woman driver who remained at the scene.

"I'm glad she stopped and didn't run," Josefina Martinez said. "Right now, we're just trying to figure out what happened. We want answers."

El Monte police are still trying to gather details to determine what led to the crash.  

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who may have relevant information or video footage is encouraged to contact the El Monte Police Department Watch Commander at (626) 580-2109.