The Day My Son Was Struck by an Electric Scooter

From the COLlive inbox: "This past Friday, I left my home with my five-year-old son to run some last-minute errands in the neighborhood. He was soon struck by two boys zooming by on an electric scooter. My heart sank as I saw him thrown two feet across the pavement with blood."

By a Concerned Parent

This past Erev Shabbos, at 4 PM, I left my home with my five-year-old son to run some last-minute errands. As we stepped outside, my son, full of excitement, ran ahead of me and out onto the sidewalk. In an instant, two boys zooming by on an electric scooter collided with him. My heart sank as I saw him thrown two feet across the pavement, with the bloodstains marking where the impact occurred.

His head was bleeding from two gashes caused by the scooter’s handlebars, and his face, having hit the sidewalk with force, was scraped, bruised, and bloodied; his arm was also injured. In a panic, I immediately called Hatzolah and pulled my son back inside. Baruch Hashem, he was conscious, and Hatzolah was on the way.

The boy responsible for the accident remained on the scene, visibly shocked by what had happened. My parental instincts took over, and I began demanding why he had been riding so carelessly. His response “It wasn’t my fault. Your son ran onto the sidewalk.” I reminded him that riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk is dangerous. His defense was, “Should I ride in the street? That’s dangerous!”

From his answer, I understood that his parents had forbidden him from riding in the street under any circumstances, and therefore, the responsibility for this accident lies with his parents.
When Hatzolah arrived, they carefully examined my son and transported us to the hospital. The staff there treated his injuries, removing the small pebbles embedded in his face and putting staples in his head. This was a painful and traumatic experience for a little boy.

Later, I received video footage of the boys on their scooters. They weren’t riding at top speed, but they weren’t going slowly either. Hashem Yishmor—if they had been moving faster, the outcome could have been much worse, Chas Vesholom.

I tracked down the parents of the boy involved and spoke with them about the incident. It turns out they had purchased the scooter to help their son reach yeshiva on time, and also as a fun accessory unaware of the potential dangers an electric scooter poses. Their ignorance of the hazard their child’s “fun accessory” poses was alarming. I’m sorry, but no child’s fun or convenience can justify another child’s injuries—or anyone for that matter.

Electric scooters do not belong on sidewalks, period. They are a danger to pedestrians, especially children and the elderly.

In this past week’s parsha, we learned about the mitzvah of Ma’akeh, which is our obligation to prevent dangerous situations from occurring. The safety of others is a fundamental Torah value – Lo Samod Al Dam Roecha -“Don’t stand by idly when your brother’s safety is at risk”.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Electric scooters are becoming a growing danger on our sidewalks. We, as a community, must take action to get these scooters off our sidewalks. If someone chooses to endanger themselves by riding in the street, that’s their decision—but don’t endanger innocent pedestrians.

Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt for our teens and children to learn the value of walking and exercise. These habits are not only beneficial for physical health but also play a crucial role in our mental well-being. Let’s prioritize safety and ensure that our sidewalks remain safe, where both all can walk without fear.

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