ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: YES Or NO, Debate Triggered After 9-Year-Old Girl Rushed To Hospital In Spain After A collision With An Electric Scooter

A 9-year-old girl suffers a severe blow when hit by an electric scooter.

The incident took place early this morning (Thursday) at around 8.40 am in Calle Guevara in Santander- Spain when a 9-year-old girl who was on her way to school was run over by an electric scooter.

The minor was attended by local police who were in the area and aided her until she was treated by an ambulance from 061, which took her to the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

This isn’t the first time accidents involving electric scooters have occurred. In fact in the US alone there have been over 1,545 scooter-related accidents in the last couple of years. Prompting an urgent call to re-examine the safety of electric scooters.

The first mortal accident provoked by an electric scooter in Spain occurred in August 2018 when a 90-year-old woman, who was walking along the Rambla del Carme in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona) with the help of a walker, was hit from behind by an electric scooter occupied by two people.

The scooter had been driven by 19-year-old Alexi. Berta fell and her head hit the ground violently. She suffered internal bleeding. A few hours later she died in the hospital. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) confirmed after the incident that it was the first known death in Spain of a pedestrian due to being run over by an electric scooter.

The death of the elderly woman accelerated the debate on the need to regulate personal mobility vehicles – which have become, in large cities, an alternative to the car and public transport – and led to the opening of criminal proceedings against the driver of the scooter.

Euro Weekly News has hit the streets to ask people’s opinions, the replies have been more than mixed.

Derrick, 55, who lives in Torreblanca was quick to inform “Horrific things, for starters they are not as eco-friendly as they seem,” explaining: “the production of all the materials used in their manufacture, the frame, wheels and battery have a significant impact when it came to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Clara, 24, local from Fuengirola loves her scooter, a gift from “The Kings” or rather her boyfriend she says with a wink. “I no longer have to worry about parking spaces, traffic jams and at the same time save money on petrol.”

“So much better than those ear-shattering mopeds” confesses Juana, 49, owner of a shoe shop in Los Boliches. “I might even get one myself” she added.