In Estonia, a 12-year-old girl was in a coma for several days after an e-scooter crash
In Järveküla, Estonia, 12-year-old Elizabeth suffered severe injuries in May in an accident involving an electric scooter she had borrowed from a friend. The girl was in a coma for several days. At the time of the crash, the scooter was traveling at more than 55 km/h, and the child was not wearing a helmet, ERR News reports.
The girl’s father, Pert Lomp, said that Elizabeth has almost fully recovered. At the same time, there are still concerns about her sense of smell, taste, and hearing in one ear. According to her father, doctors believe these problems will pass as she gets older.
Circumstances of the accident
Elizabeth does not remember the accident itself — only the morning of that day. It later emerged that she had borrowed the scooter to go and buy pastries. According to available information, there were no difficult road conditions at the crash site: the road was straight and visibility was good. It is likely that at high speed the scooter’s handlebars began to wobble, after which the girl lost control.
A witness immediately called an ambulance. Elizabeth’s father, mother, and sister arrived at the scene as she was being carried to the medical vehicle. Lomp said he immediately understood the seriousness of the situation.
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Call for stricter rules
After the incident, the father published a social media post to warn other parents. He does not call for electric scooters to be banned entirely, but insists on clear rules that would not allow riding on sidewalks at speeds exceeding 60 km/h. Lomp urged parents not to give in to every wish of a child, as temporary dissatisfaction, in his words, is better than possible severe consequences.
In Estonia, a light personal electric vehicle is considered to be a vehicle with a design maximum speed of up to 25 km/h and an engine power of up to one kilowatt. Bicycle licences are required for riders aged 10 and older, while people under 16 are required to wear a helmet.
This week, East Harju police checked electric scooters on the streets and found around ten vehicles that did not meet the requirements. Some of them could reach about 56 km/h, while others exceeded 70 km/h. Mari-Liis Melder, head of a police unit, advised against buying electric scooters for children, noting that children under the age of 15–16 may not understand the dangers of road traffic.
