Father of 17yo killed in e-bike crash speaks after teen driver sentenced

A Gold Coast father whose son died in an electric bike crash has spoken out after the driver was sentenced, saying the devices need better regulation.

Hudson Gagg, 17, died in September when the e-bike he was a passenger on collided with a car.

The 17-year-old e-bike driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in the Southport Children's Court today, after pleading guilty to six charges, including driving without due care and attention causing death, driving unlicensed, and driving with a relevant drug present in his blood at the time of the crash.

He was sentenced to nine months' probation and his licence was disqualified for nine months.

The teenagers had been riding down a steep hill on Tallebudgera Creek Road on September 22, 2025 and were unable to brake before they collided with a car, the court heard.

Speaking outside court, Jason Gagg remembered his son as a jovial "boofhead with a big smile … who loved his mates".

Mr Gagg said he would like to see improvements to the registration of devices so that claims could be sought by those injured in accidents.

"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," he said.

"At the moment, there wasn't anything there … there is no financial assistance to assist or support [our family], so that's been tough."

'Devastating' impact, court told

During the sentencing hearing, Magistrate Mark Bamberry was told the bike was classed as a motor vehicle because of its power output and was unregistered and uninsured when it was ridden on a road.

Gold Coast police prosecutor Aaron Lockwood submitted five victim impact statements and said the details of the case were distressing.

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

"It's a tragic set of circumstances for what is a very close-knit community on the southern end of the Gold Coast."

In arguing for a probation period, Mr Lockwood said that no matter the sentence imposed, the circumstances "would not bring Hudson back".

Defence lawyer Daniel McShane agreed that a period of probation was appropriate and said the crash had haunted the offender.

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

He said his client had a low risk of reoffending.

"He's almost paralytically fearful of getting into a vehicle and certainly of getting onto a bike," Mr McShane said.

The offender cried as Mr Bamberry handed down his sentence and detailed the friendship the 17-year-old had to Hudson.

"Imposing a sentence that will deter you isn't [my] primary focus," Mr Bamberry said.

"You're also a victim; you've lost your mate … asking yourself why you survived and why Hudson didn't, that's something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life."

The magistrate imposed a nine-month probation period, including conditions that the offender must not commit another offence, as well as a nine-month period of licence disqualification.

Jason Gagg said no penalty would bring Hudson back, and he hoped to see stronger regulation of the devices.

"I have no issue with e-bikes, it's the riders and the device. It has to be regulated and has to be a proper e-bike," he said.

"With all that said … for us, today, it's another closure."