The family of 17-year-old Ishmael Sankoh has paid tribute after police publicly named him as the teenager who died in a collision involving an e-bike and a car in Enfield. Investigators are continuing to seek witnesses and recordings from the area, while the car driver remains on bail pending further enquiries.
Teenager named after fatal collision
Police said officers were called at 22:56 on Sunday 4 October to reports of a collision in Elsinge Road, Enfield. The e-bike rider was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as Ishmael Sankoh, aged 17.
Emergency services attended alongside police, including the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and London’s Air Ambulance. The publicly released information confirms that a car and an e-bike were involved, but does not set out the precise sequence of events or establish how the collision happened.
Sankoh’s family described him as a much-loved son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend. In their tribute, they recalled his kindness and intelligence, his love of football and computers, and the pride he brought to his family. They said they were grateful for the memories and moments they had shared, while expressing the pain of losing him and their wish that they had had more time together.
Driver remains on bail as enquiries continue
The 60-year-old man who was driving the car was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries. These are suspicions under investigation; no charge or finding of guilt is reported in the available update.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or who was in the area around the time and may have relevant information, to come forward. They are also seeking dashcam, CCTV or mobile-phone footage from the vicinity. Recordings may assist even if they do not show the collision itself, because footage from around the time could help investigators establish what happened.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote reference CD 7294/4OCT. The request includes people with recordings who may not have seen the collision directly. The appeal does not state that any specific footage has been recovered or that investigators have reached a conclusion about the circumstances.
A later update to the original appeal
An earlier police appeal, issued shortly after the collision, described the rider as a 17-year-old boy without naming him. At that stage, the driver was reported to be in custody. The later announcement adds the teenager’s identity and his family’s tribute, and confirms that the driver has been released on bail while enquiries continue.
The identity and tribute are significant new information for the family and community, but this remains coverage of the same 4 October collision rather than a new crash. The renewed appeal for witnesses and footage underlines that the investigation is still seeking evidence; it does not imply that the cause of the collision has been established. The family is being supported by specialist officers, and police have asked that their privacy be respected as they grieve.
