Many of us moms grew up in the days when we didn’t always take safety precautions such as wearing a helmet while riding our bikes. But like many things in the 2020s, even the act of riding a bike is more intense than ever before, especially with the current popularity of electric bikes. Today, nearly half of all states have mandatory bike helmet laws for children to help protect against head injuries. Utah mom Debbie Prince’s 15-year-old daughter sustained a traumatic brain injury following a fall off her e-bike on February 20, 2026. Bella was not wearing a helmet when she lost control and fell 25 feet down a cliff. Miraculously, the teenager survived. Her mom wants to warn others about the importance of never riding without a helmet.
Bella rode fast on the day of her fall.
The day of Bella’s accident, she was reportedly riding at 40 miles per hour when she hit a retaining wall. She then flew off the cliff and hit the ground headfirst, KSL-TV reported. A police officer happened to see the crash and helped coordinate emergency personnel. That one witness might have made the difference between life and death.
“Neurosurgeons were able to get her into surgery within an hour from the time of the accident, within that ‘golden hour’ for head injuries,” Debbie Prince told the news outlet.
Bella’s mom admitted she should’ve been wearing a helmet.
According to KSL-TV, many Utah teens ride e-bikes without helmets. But just because they do that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
“Bella told me, I understand now that I’m going to wear this scar for the rest of my life, that a helmet could have made the difference between life and death, between living with the outcome of this forever,” Debbie Prince shared.
Though Bella survived the crash, doctors anticipate lifelong effects from her head injury.
“She would have had such less trauma if she would have had a helmet on, it would have made the hugest difference,” Debbie Prince added to KSL-TV.
Beginning in May, helmets will be required when riding e-bikes in Utah.
Representative Paul Cutler told KSL-TV he sponsored HB381, which passed both the House and Senate. The bill requires helmets.
“You have to wear a helmet. You have to have a license. You’ve got to be have some training to ride on a road, like a driver’s license,” Cutler explained to the outlet. “If they’re underage or riding one of these super-fast scooters that are not legal on roads, then the police can hold that until the parent comes and gets it.”
We think this kind of legislation is a great idea, particularly for kids. No one needs to ruin their lives because they think wearing a helmet makes them look uncool. Bella is one very lucky young girl, not only to be alive but also to have so much love and support.
Loved ones created a GoFundMe account for her family, which has raised about $6,000 thus far to help cover medical bills.
