Boy, 14, is fighting for his life after ‘crashing electric scooter into a bus stop’

A teenage boy is fighting for his life after crashing his electric scooter into a bus stop.

The 14-year-old’s accident came just a day after TV host and YouTube Emily Hartridge, 35, died in Britain’s first electric scooter fatality in a collision with a lorry  on Friday, sparking calls for a crackdown.

The boy is believed to have lost control riding on the pavement. Witnesses told The Sun he had not been wearing a helmet and was travelling at speed on a scooter that can go up to 40mph.

He crashed near the Bethlem Royal psychiatric hospital in Beckenham, South London, at about midday on Saturday and suffered a serious head injury.

He was airlifted to another hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Pictured: Monks Orchard Road, where the teenager crashed his scooter into a bus stop 

The scooter was capable of speeds of up to 40mph according to witnesses (stock image)

The scooter was capable of speeds of up to 40mph according to witnesses (stock image)

On Friday Ms Hartridge died riding a scooter she had been given only recently as a birthday present from her boyfriend.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has now urged ministers to assess whether it needs to consider tougher new laws on so-called e-scooters to prevent more tragedies.

It is illegal to ride the vehicles – which can top 30mph thanks to powerful batteries – either on pavements or roads.

Regardless of the law, they are becoming an increasingly common sight, often whizzing silently and startlingly fast among traffic or pedestrians.

Emily Hartridge, 35, was in a collision with a lorry while riding one of the vehicles on Friday. She had only just been given the scooter as a birthday gift by her boyfriend

Emily Hartridge, 35, was in a collision with a lorry while riding one of the vehicles on Friday. She had only just been given the scooter as a birthday gift by her boyfriend

Tragedy struck when she was involved in an accident with a lorry on Friday at a roundabout in Battersea, south London. Celebrities including Davina McCall joined her family in paying tribute.

Tragedy struck when she was involved in an accident with a lorry on Friday at a roundabout in Battersea, south London. Celebrities including Davina McCall joined her family in paying tribute. 

It is illegal to ride the vehicles – which can top 30mph thanks to powerful batteries – either on pavements or roads. A file photo of an electric scooter is pictured above

It is illegal to ride the vehicles – which can top 30mph thanks to powerful batteries – either on pavements or roads. A file photo of an electric scooter is pictured above

Miss Hartridge presented Channel 4 documentary ‘S*** I’m 30’ and also created the health and lifestyle YouTube series 10 Reasons Why, which has a monthly audience of three million. 

Just last week she told fans how her personal trainer boyfriend Jake Hazell, 27, had given her an electric scooter for her birthday.

She had also talked of her hopes of having children one day, saying she had frozen her eggs in case she became infertile.

But tragedy struck when she was involved in an accident with a lorry on Friday at a roundabout in Battersea, south London. Celebrities including Davina McCall joined her family in paying tribute. 

In a message on Instagram for her 44,000 followers, her family said: ‘She has touched so many lives, it’s hard to imagine things without her. She was a very special person.’

There have already been a number of deaths across Europe. There is mounting concern that more deaths in Britain will follow without action. 

Nick Lloyd of RoSPA said last night: ‘The use of electric scooters is increasing, including on the roads and pavements where they are currently illegal, and so we would urge the Government to take a look at current legislation to ensure it is fit for purpose to maximise the safety of road users.’

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has now urged ministers to assess whether it needs to consider tougher new laws on so-called e-scooters to prevent more tragedies (pictured, the scene of the crash)

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has now urged ministers to assess whether it needs to consider tougher new laws on so-called e-scooters to prevent more tragedies (pictured, the scene of the crash)

The Department for Transport said it was important for retailers to remind users about the law. 

Transport for London chief Mike Brown has been urging action on the vehicles, which can cost upwards of £200, saying: ‘I was on the Millennium Bridge the other night and there was some guy on an electric scooter rocketing down the middle.

‘I did think to myself, “This is actually not that safe”.’ 

Former minister Jesse Norman has already expressed concern that the public are largely unaware that electric scooters can only be lawfully used on private land.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called to Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, at 11:42hrs on Saturday, 13 July to reports that a teenage boy had crashed an electric scooter.

‘Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. 

‘A 14-year-old boy was found with a serious head injury after it was reported his scooter had collided with a bus stop. He was taken by Air Ambulance to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. 

‘His next of kin have been informed. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.’

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