Two teenagers have been seriously injured following an e-scooter and vehicle crash in Alexandra Headland on Tuesday 3 January.
Police said about 7.15pm a 13-year-old Mountain Creek boy was riding an e-scooter with a 13-year-old Buderim girl as a passenger eastbound along George Street when a collision occurred with a silver Suzuki Vitara wagon travelling north along Mayfield Street.
The driver of the vehicle and multiple bystanders stopped to render immediate first aid to the teenagers ahead of the emergency response, however, both sustained critical injuries.
“The two teenagers were just flung into the air by this vehicle,“ Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Dianne Rigby said.
Ms Rigby said the boy was transported in a serious condition to Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) and later airlifted by LifeFlight crews to the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) in Brisbane with multiple leg injuries and significant head injuries.
The girl was transported by road to SCUH with hip and back injuries and later airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
“The outcome is absolutely terrible, life changing potentially,“ Ms Rigby said.
“It was very traumatic for those who witnessed it as well.“
The driver of the vehicle, a 34-year-old Mooloolaba woman was not physically injured.
Witnesses, especially those with dashcam vision of the crash or the moments leading up to it, are asked to come forward.
In another incident in Buderim on Saturday night about 8.45pm, a man in his 20s suffered a shoulder injury in an e-scooter incident on Oakmont Drive and was transported in a stable condition to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Since new rules for personal mobility devices including e-scooters came into effect on 1 November 2022 police issued infringement notices to 780 people between 1 November and 31 December.
“E-scooters and other personal mobility devices are a convenient way to travel and are great for the environment and our tourism sector, but unfortunately, we continue to see some people do the wrong thing,“ Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.
“Since the new rules began, almost 800 Queenslanders and tourists have been fined for offences including carrying passengers, speeding and failing to wear a helmet.
“While we want people to be able to use these devices, it’s important they’re safe for the riders and those they interact with.“
“Significant consultation with stakeholders from the PMD industry, health sector and all types of path and road users, disability advocates, local councils, RACQ and police was conducted in developing these rules – the most comprehensive in Australia.“
The key rules are:
– Speed limit – 12km/h on footpaths and shared paths, unless otherwise signed, 25km/h limit on all other infrastructure, including bike infrastructure and local streets.
– Know where you can ride – on footpaths, shared paths, bike paths and local 50km/h streets with no road markings and on-road bike lanes only where the speed limit is 50km/h or less.
– Always wear a helmet – fastened.
– No doubling (passengers not allowed).
-No hand-held phone use while riding.
– No riders under 12 years of age, and those aged 12-15 must be supervised.
– Don’t drink and ride.
– General road rules apply – same as for bikes.
– Use a warning bell on devices with handlebars
The most common fines were issued for:
– Not wearing a helmet ($143).
– Riding on prohibited roads ($173).
– Speeding (fines ranging from $143 to $575).
– Disobeying road rules including mobile phone use (up to $1078).
– Doubling (riding with a passenger) ($143).
Queensland Police Service (QPS) North Brisbane Highway Patrol Senior Constable Duncan Hill said the community response to personal mobility devices (PMD) safety enforcement had been overwhelmingly positive.
“Most PMD riders are understanding and happy to oblige with the new rules for their own safety and that of the community, without the need for infringements.” he said.
“QPS will continue to be out across the state educating riders and taking enforcement action when necessary.“
Mr Bailey said there would be more changes announced this year specifically on drink riding.
