Father Calls for E-bike Regulation After Son's Fatal Crash

A Gold Coast father is advocating for stricter regulations on electric bikes following the tragic death of his 17-year-old son, Hudson Gagg. Hudson died in September 2025 when the e-bike he was riding as a passenger collided with a car on a steep hill on Tallebudgera Creek Road.

The 17-year-old e-bike driver, whose identity is protected by law, pleaded guilty to six charges, including driving without due care and attention causing death, driving unlicensed, and driving with drugs in his system. He was sentenced to nine months' probation and had his license disqualified for nine months.

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You should have to have a licence and some type of registration so if there is an incident, people can make a claim against you.

During the sentencing, the court heard that the e-bike was classified as a motor vehicle due to its power output and was unregistered and uninsured at the time of the crash. Jason Gagg, Hudson's father, expressed his hope for improved registration processes for e-bikes. He believes mandatory licensing and registration would allow victims of accidents to seek claims.

"You should have to have a licence and some type of registration so if there is an incident, people can make a claim against you," Jason Gagg stated outside the court. "At the moment, there wasn't anything there … there is no financial assistance to assist or support [our family], so that's been tough."

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One can understand the impact on a family of losing a son, a brother; it's just been devastating.

Prosecutors presented five victim impact statements, describing the case as "distressing" and "devastating" for the close-knit southern Gold Coast community. The defense lawyer acknowledged the profound impact on the offender, who has reportedly suffered flashbacks and significant injuries requiring rehabilitation. The court was told the offender has a low risk of reoffending and is now fearful of driving or riding.

Magistrate Mark Bamberry handed down the sentence, noting the deep friendship between the two teenagers. The offender wept as the sentence was delivered.

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He suffers deep flashbacks from this; he suffered significant injuries spending weeks in hospital before having to learn to walk again.