E-scooter safety under spotlight after operator dies in London crash

According to police, a person riding a scooter struck by a vehicle in northeast London has succumbed to their injuries. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

An e-scooter rider involved in a collision in northeast London late Wednesday afternoon has died.

“And we are still in the early stages of that investigation, and the Road Safety Section has begun taking over that investigation,” said London Police Staff Sgt. Michael Anderson of the Road Safety Section.

Emergency crews responded to Beckworth Avenue around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday for a collision involving a paratransit van and an e-scooter. According to police, a 47-year-old man has died.

“As a result of the investigation, an adult male, who was operating an e-scooter, the one that you stand-up on, has passed away as a result of injuries from the collision,” said Staff Sgt. Anderson.

The investigation follows a recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, which showed a 32 per cent increase in reported e-scooter hospitalizations over one year, rising from 375 in July 2024 to 498 in July 2025.

E-scooter operators Samantha Cotterill and Jacori Krasnicki said the convenience, low cost, and enjoyment outweigh the risks.

“It’s pretty fun. Easy to navigate. Easy to control. They’re very fast,” explained Krasnicki.

“If you’re not paying attention, I’m sure it’d be unsafe. But if you’re paying attention, you’ll be okay,” added Cotterill.

An e-scooter is only permitted to travel up to 24 km/h under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. Riders must be at least 16 and helmets are required for anyone under 18. In London, e-scooters are not permitted to be used on sidewalks, but they are allowed on bike paths.

Cycling Advocate, Andrew McCleneghan of the London Bicycle Café, said road safety comes down to building roads for all who use them.

“There are more blind spots to check. There’s a bit of changes with the infrastructure in town where you need to think about ‘maybe someone will be coming up on my right at a different velocity.’ Just take it slow, or even just drive the speed limit,” said McCleneghan.

In the meantime, the London Police Service is asking for help from the public with its investigation.

Anyone who was in the area between 4:10 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. who may have witnessed the crash or who has dashcam, residential, or business footage, is asked to contact police.