Julia Lynn Kalthof, a 65-year-old resident of Windsor Terrace in Palm Coast, faces a felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge after she was captured on video driving off the road and onto a foot-and-bike path apparently to chase a 14-year-old boy on an e-bike the evening of June 7.
The incident underscores the increasing prevalence of electric bikes on public roadways and foot paths. The boy was not at fault in any way and did not commit infractions. But certain cities are adopting tough new rules to regulate e-bikes–in some cases tougher rules than apply to car drivers. St. Johns County recently considered adopting stricter rules than state law provides for, but finally declined to do so.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly is calling on the Legislature–but not local authorities–to toughen state law.
The boy riding on Pine Lakes Parkway, here referred to as Eddie (an assumed name), told a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy that as he was riding west on Pine Lakes Parkway, someone in a gray SUV started chasing and harassing him. The SUV had followed him from the Pine Lakes intersection with Woodbury Drive to Wood Haven Drive and Palm Coast Parkway, and at one point tried to go around him and cut him off as he was in a crosswalk, almost striking him, according to Kalthof’s arrest report.
In fright, Eddie started pedaling as fast as he could while the SUV kept chasing him. He took out his phone to document the incident, and at one point is heard saying, “this lady is trying to hit me.” At that point the SUV was behind him, on the bike path. Eddie later flagged down a car that got in the way of the SUV, enabling him to get back to his house. He told deputies that “his heart was racing and he was afraid for his life.”
The witness who helped him had called 911 as the incident was ongoing. The witness’s girlfriend was driving behind him and recorded a portion of the incident on her phone, which she shared with authorities. The witness had seen Kalthof’s SUV get to within 6 to 10 feet of the e-bike on the bike path. The video shows the SUV getting “within a car length” of the bike at one point, before backing off, the arrest report states. The witness then cut off Kalthof and took down her vehicle’s identifying information.
Kalthof told a deputy that she was angry that Eddie “had been riding his e-bike through the neighborhood fast,” according to her arrest report. She was following him to find out where he lives. She wanted to speak with his parents. She said she tried to get past him to get him to slow down. She “admitted that she had made a mistake and asked if she was being arrested.”
She was–for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, a third-degree felony, and reckless driving, a misdemeanor. Deputies also issued Kalthof a traffic ticket for driving on the multiuse path. She was booked at the county jail on $3,000 bond and issued a no-contact order regarding the boy and two witnesses.
“This woman caused a dangerous situation with her reckless and aggressive behavior and could have seriously hurt or killed not just the child she was chasing, but anyone who happened to be walking or biking on that path,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying in a release. “I’m thankful that nobody was hurt, or she could be facing even more serious charges. I also want to thank the bystander who stopped a dangerous situation and called 911 so that our deputies could handle it, conduct their investigation, and arrest this driver who clearly needs anger management.”
According to Florida law, an e-bike “or an operator of an electric bicycle shall be afforded all the rights and privileges, and be subject to all of the duties, of a bicycle or the operator of a bicycle.” Licenses are not required to ride e-bikes, which may be ridden on sidewalks.
“E-bikes are becoming more and more prevalent in Palm Coast, and the riders need to control their speed and recklessness too,” Staly said. “The legislature needs to give us the new laws to address the behavior of these riders, such as limiting the allowed speed riders can go, just like cars.”
Kendall says
My neighbor, a woman in her 80s was almost killed by a person on an ebike speeding on a sidewalk. She had a compound fracture in her leg and is still recovering almost 2 years later.
On more than a few occasions I have witnessed E bikes not stop at intersections and have almost been hit by them while walking as most of the time the riders have no etiquette for sharing the sidewalk.
Anything motorized does not belong on a sidewalk and there should be age restrictions and testing/licensure requirements for operators so they know the rules of the road and how to engage with pedestrians.
Mark says
What she did was wrong yet I see many of these kids going faster than the cars with electric bikes and disregarding the cross streets along with stop signs, just a matter of time before one gets seriously hurt.
Skibum says
I read the news reports of this incident yesterday, and I was able to watch two separate videos that showed what happened as it played out. The first video was from the teen on his e-bike on the bike path, which at a couple of points while he was trying to get away from the car chasing after him on the bike path he turns his phone around to show the car’s headlights coming after him as he says the car is trying to run him over. The second video is from another driver on the adjacent street, videotaping the car driving on the bike path not far behind the person on the e-bike.
What really is the most concerning from my perspective is the information in the initial news reports I read yesterday regrading the Flagler County sheriff’s deputy who responded to the incident, and make the astonishingly bad decision that the woman driving the car on the bike path while chasing after the teen was not going to be arrested, but merely warned against doing such a foolish thing in the future! It wasn’t until the teen’s dad later went to the sheriff’s precinct and complained to sheriff’s officials that someone higher up reviewed what had happened, including that deputy’s response, and overruled the deputy and subsequently arrested the woman for aggravated assault – a felony. It’s not brain surgery – that woman’s actions were so dangerous and outlandish that there should have been no question regarding whether or not she was going to face criminal charges. Her arrest for assault SHOULD have been the outcome from the get go!
JimboXYZ says
Something isn’t wired right in that human biological unit. Imagine being that stupid at age 65 ?
James says
Chasing after a kid on an e-bike with an SUV?!?
Just another story of another moron, in a county of morons, in a state full of morons.
As for the kid… who hopefully wears a helmet when he’s out riding… slow down. E-bikes are getting a lot of negative press lately in Florida, some of it perhaps justified.
But to get law enforcement involved?
Don’t they have enough trouble with cars and other heavy vehicles driven by all the brain dead morons of this state?
This is just another culture war, “parenting issue” when it concerns young people… so yes… I guess it will eventually be a matter for law enforcement.
Just my opinion.
Atwp says
Why bother young people when they tending to their own business bothering nobody. I love to see young people enjoying life and not doing anything destructive. Were she suppose to be on a trail in a car? Am glad she was arrested. Lesson to all, leave people alone if they not bothering you and tending to their on affairs. Yuou think they are doing wrong, call the cops.
Dennis C Rathsam says
She needs to stop at Truelieve on Old Kings Rd….TOO MUCH DRAMA!
Steve says
Maybe some Anger Management along with whatever else happens to her. Seems that Julia is a Karen and a dangerous one at that.
Bye Felicia says
Haha neighborhood Karen goes to jail.
Dusty says
We rode our bikes at normal pedal bike speeds why should we be punished for the few that are reckless?
Joe Freeman says
Hey Karen, next time mind your own business. You don’t need to police the world.
Walk safely says
I am definitely not condoning the actions taken here BUT the sign says “NO MOTORIZED VIECHLES ^ ON THE BIKE PATH !
So little Eddie did commit a violation. I personally have almost been hit a dozen times or more by the e bikes on the same stretch of walkway.
If Little Eddie did nothing wrong why not just remove the signage and make it a real free for all. While FCSO sits under the shade trees on Belle Terre
Sherry says
Geez. . . political name calling is ridiculous! This is a “SAFETY” issue for which “everyone” should be concerned!
As my mother used to say “two wrongs don’t make a right”. While certainly nobody should be driving on a bike path and harassing others, Ebikes are currently “unregulated” MOTORIZED vehicles operated on walking/manuel bike paths. There was an actual death cause by one here in my CA neighborhood. This is quickly becoming a nationwide problem:
This from the American College of Surgeons:
According to the New York City Department of Transportation, bicycle deaths reached a 24-year high in New York City in 2023, as 30 people were killed on a bicycle, 23 of whom were riding e-bikes.8 Three pedestrians also were killed by e-bike riders. Increased delivery services by e-bike, bidirectional bicycle lanes, riding in traffic, and a proliferation of e-bike city rentals have contributed to the increased injuries.
In February 2024, US researchers reported a dramatic 49-fold increase in e-bike riders with head trauma nationally over the past 5 years, which they attribute to a lack of safety regulations like mandatory helmets, speed limits for e-bikes, and age restrictions.9
Across the US, lithium-ion battery explosions in e-bikes leading to fires have been reported. In 2023, 267 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries injured 150 and led to 18 deaths in New York City. Nevada’s Incline Village and the Port of San Diego banned e-bikes in areas where pedestrians travel.7
Key Decision Points Surrounding E-Bike Use in the US
Policymakers in the US have several key decision points:
Extending Helmet Laws
Helmet mandate legislation is effective, with an estimated 20% reduction in head injuries and a larger effect with more severe injuries. Any person under age 17 is required to wear a helmet when riding bikes in California, and all Class 3 e-bike riders, regardless of age, must wear a helmet. Law enforcement should be supported to enforce existing helmet laws, as it can be difficult to distinguish e-bike classes from afar. Requiring the use of motorcycle helmets that protect both the skull and neck should be considered for faster e-bikes.
Enforcing Speed and Rider Limits
Several devices are marketed to bypass existing speed restrictions. “Tuning kits” can deactivate the speed limiter, turning a lawful e-bike into a non-street-legal motorcycle or moped. E-bike manufacture and product safety standards should be strengthened to prevent disabling the speed limiter, with fines for removing speed regulators. Restrictions on the number of individuals allowed on a single e-bike should be strengthened, as multiple riders are hazardous.
Changing Nomenclature
New “multiclass” e-bikes can operate across multiple e-bike classes. “Out of class” e-bikes also exist with motors more than 750 watts that do not conform to the current manufacturer classification and reach speeds of motorcycles. Perhaps using the names “e-moped” or “e-motorcycle” would provide greater clarity to purchasers about the risks of these vehicles.
Requiring Licenses for E-Bike Operation
Licensing and registration requirements for e-bike users under the age of 18 (or for all ages) are under consideration.
Improving Road Safety Design
Infrastructure and road safety are central. Urban design can promote bicycle lanes and safe routes for e-bikes to travel. An unanswered question is the role of traffic accidents in the injuries being witnessed, and what steps to promote road safety should be prioritized. Should e-bikes travel on sidewalks and boardwalks or in streets, in protected bike lanes, and be allowed on multi-use trails and unpaved roads in open spaces?
Increasing Education and Awareness
E-bikes are commonly sold in bike shops or online without special license or training requirements. Regulations and community understanding of risks have not kept pace with the surge in use, and greater public education efforts are necessary. First-time violators could undergo special education or take an approved safety course when they receive citations for riding against traffic, on sidewalks, without helmets, and so on.
jnlocal says
And her blood alcohol level was ???
Mothersworry says
She is an idiot! Having said, that these bikes are a pia imho! They are quiet, hard to see in traffic, at times below your mirrors so you can’t see them. Not like they are a HD that you can see as well as hear.
Daniel Croft says
Such hypocrisy-is this city not embarrassed?
Dozens and dozens of signs that say NO MOTOR VEHICLES!
This incident will pale when an e bike runs over a stroller -I ride (real bicycle}the paths all the time for last 20 years and yes I’ve seen close calls and the I learn that this city in its infinite wisdom allowed e bikes on path w same rights , etc. ACTUALLY APPROVED E BIKES
Just stop trying to please all and take a stand as this rule will result in serious consequences.
And no I don’t want to listen to any deflection or blame it on the State and your hands are tied or some other nonsense.
Either remove the NO MOTOR sign or return the path back to real bicycles walkers strollers.
Did the city not know that electric bikes have , oh surprise-MOTORS
Skibum says
Hi Sherry. No doutbt, e-bikes can be dangerous. And not just e-bikes… I have a close friend down in Ft. Lauderdale who owns a rather expensive electric scooter that he usually rides back and forth to work at an attorney’s office because the parking situation in Ft. Lauderdale is ridiculous. Not long after he had bought that thing, I was visiting and he suggested I take that thing for a spin around his townhouse complex. I was very careful and rode it cautiously and it was ok but I just cannot see the attraction. But wow, that scooter will rocket down the street full throttle at 35 to nearly 40 mph! Who in their right mind would be so reckless to be standing on a damn scooter, speeding on the street at that speed unless you were trying to kill yourself!?
All of these e-bikes, electric scooters, one wheel gizmos, etc. prove that modern technology is far ahead of our laws to regulate their use in today’s world, so it is incumbent on people using common sense… LOL, that is hilarious isn’t it!
Pam says
I agree with whoever was talking about a helmet law. The kids are zipping around the city without a care, not paying attention to traffic. (I know there are some that are careful but overall, they’re kids being kids…. careless). Helmets would at least be something safe they can wear in case of an accident of any kind.
James says
There are two separate issues here that are being conflated by many. One is that of e-bike safety in general… which can additionally be argued over in terms of age… the other, of this particular incident involving these particular individuals.
In this particular case it’s the driver of the SUV who’s actions were reckless and uncalled for in my opinion.
It’s not a question of e-bike safety when someone is chasing you down in an SUV… at least not in my opinion.
After all, even our governor would agree. As he stated just last week (in a sense), if you’re driving into a dangerous situation you have the right to back away… flee… but if cornered, you have the right to defend yourself.
As it is with a car entering into a protest march, so too should it be in a situation like this. Even more so perhaps… since one might have chance to avoid a protest march altogether, but one knows not what one will encounter in the course of a bike ride.
Perhaps if the teen were a little older he could have gotten a concealed carry permit, decided to “stand his ground” after being chased for a few blocks… and then what?
Florida… full of morons.
Again, just my opinion.