UK’s terrifying e-scooter ‘Wild West’ revealed as deaths rise & grieving mum begs: ‘don’t get your kid one at Christmas’

1 comment 1 Next CHILDREN as young as NINE dying, headteachers being told to “dob in” pupils who arrive on them, and A&E departments battling rapidly increasing casualties. This is the impact of Britain’s worrying wave of deadly e-scooter incidents, causing police, traumatised parents and senior hospital staff to issue parents a blunt message: do not buy them as toys for your kids this Christmas . 8 Emily Hartridge died in an e-scooter crash and was the first victim when she was killed in 2019 Source: Instagram 8 The tragic scene of Emily Hartridge’s crash in Battersea, London Source: Ian Whittaker – The Sun Advertisement Recent data from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) revealed that, to date, 66 people had died in crashes involving e-scooters – with many more seriously injured including a girl, nine, in Wellingborough, Northants., last month.

It was a different story in 2019 when, before they became mainstream, just one person lost their life. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. CLICK TO WATCH TV presenter and influencer Emily Hartridge , 35, was Britain’s first e-scooter victim when she was killed after the vehicle she was riding collided with a lorry in Battersea, London.

An inquest subsequently found it had an under-inflated tyre, causing her to lose control. Read more on e-scooters BLAZE HORROR Mum and her 3 children died in house fire sparked by battery used in e-bikes COLLARED Moment dog leads cops to fugitive owner after he fled officers and left Lab behind Fast forward six years to 2025 and there were 12 deaths, including the heartbreaking case of nine-year-old Darcie Casselden. She was riding an e-scooter when she died alongside her 16-year-old brother Roman in a hit-and-run in Basildon, Essex. 8 Heartbreaking images show Jacob Calland in hospital – he died in an e-scooter crash Source: True Life Stories 8 Jacob Calland was just 14 when he died Source: True Life Stories Advertisement Carly Calland’s son, Jacob, 14, also died that year when, in March, the e-scooter he was a pillion passenger on travelled onto a dual carriageway and through a red light.

“The increase in the number of people dying is terrifying,” the campaigner told The Sun. Most read in The Sun CHOPPER SMASH Terrifying moment helicopter nosedives into river in horror crash killing one IN COLD BLOOD Dad ‘stabs wife to death in front of children months after restraining order’ HACK ALERT Hackers stole naked pics from Brit soldier & blackmailed him on Nato deployment FLEECE NAVIDAD Christmas market warning as events AXED across UK due to strict new rules “It’s a ‘Wild West’ out there.

It’s illegal to ride e-scooters on public land like pavements or roads, but people don’t realise. “You don’t have to wear protective gear. Helmets aren’t mandatory. There’s no central legislation but these vehicles can hit 28mph. “It’s so dangerous. We need people to sing from the same hymn sheet regarding legislation but that isn’t currently happening. It shouldn’t take another death for it to.” Advertisement Carly had asked Jacob never to go on an e-scooter but he disobeyed her, leaving the house when she was at her mum’s. By the time she reached him after finding out he had been involved in an accident, he was lying on the road.

He was rushed to hospital but went into cardiac arrest and didn’t regain consciousness. He died in Carly’s arms as she whispered “I love you” to him. 8 E-scooter campaigner Carly, pictured with son Jacob Source: True Life Stories 8 Carly Calland hugging her son Jacob in hospital – moments after this photo was taken he died Source: True Life Stories Advertisement The other boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Manchester Crown Court earlier this year where he admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was given an 18-month youth referral order and a five-year driving ban.

“In the 17 months since Jacob died there have been 14 people killed because of e-scooters – nearly one a month,” said Carly, from Manchester. “That cannot be allowed to continue. With Christmas coming up, more and more parents will be buying their kids e-scooters – they need to know how dangerous they can be. Please don’t get one for your child.” Carly, also mum to Jaxley, eight, said her focus was on “education”. “Jacob is constantly in my thoughts, every day I think about him,” she recalled.

“I wish it had not happened to him and he wasn’t dead, but perhaps he was meant to die to save other people.” Advertisement She is supported in her campaign by Greater Manchester Police . DC Steve Pennington, from the force, warned: “E-scooters are not harmless toys and they can lead to horrific consequences when used by inexperienced riders and without the due care required. “I would urge parents to check what their children are using.”

Just last week, Humberside Police, along with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, launched a campaign to educate children, parents and guardians about the dangers and legal restrictions surrounding e-scooters ahead of Christmas. Inspector Pete Musgrave said: “It’s important people understand they are not toys and there are strict laws governing their use.” Advertisement Medics have also backed Carly’s campaign after a new report revealed three trauma centres in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield had treated 477 under-16 e-scooter patients since 2019.

Before this, the number was fewer than 10. Similarly, the Royal Hospital for Children in Scotland revealed that the number of children who attended A&E in Greater Glasgow and Clyde due to e-scooter and e-bike accidents shot up by a staggering 600 per cent, with doctors treating kids with injuries as severe as major head trauma and broken legs. Major Trauma Coordinator at the hospital, Mark Lilley, said the increase was “alarming”. “We know e-scooters are popular and may feature on many Christmas wish lists, but the risks are significant,” he warned.

“A fall at speed can cause life-changing head or brain injuries. We have seen the trauma these accidents bring to families, and we strongly urge parents to reconsider before buying one for a child.” Advertisement Other doctors shared his concerns, adding they had seen kids with head injuries, broken bones and in need of surgery. 8 Darcie Casselden, nine, was killed in an e-scooter crash Source: Essex Police 8 Roman Casselden was killed alongside his younger sister Source: GoFundMe Children’s Major Trauma Coordinator at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Caroline Rushmer, said they “weren’t toys”, adding: “They’re dangerous and their high speed makes them unsuitable for children and young people.”

Meanwhile, following the death of 14-year-old Aaron Rowe in Lincoln in September in an e-scooter crash, Lincolnshire County Council wrote to all the county’s schools and asked them to report pupils arriving on e-scooters. Advertisement Principal of Lincoln University Technical College, Stuart Hamer, told the BBC it was a necessary move. “My foremost concern is the welfare of my students and if that’s dobbing them in, because that’s going to get a hard message home, then that’s got to be the way we go.”

RECOMMENDED STORIES Referring to Jacob’s death specifically, a Department for Transport spokeswoman told The Sun: “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with Jacob’s family.” They added: “It remains illegal to use privately owned e-scooters in public spaces, and we’re bringing forward new laws to make their use safe, including consulting on potential requirements like helmets, registration and insurance .” What's the law on e-scooters?

It is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter in public, for example on pavements, on roads or in parks. You could be fined and get penalty points on your driving licence. The scooter could also be seized by the police. You can only ride a privately owned electric scooter on private land with the permission of the landowner. You can only rent an electric scooter through official electric scooter rental schemes in certain areas of the country .

These rental schemes are also known as ‘e-scooter trials’ and have their own rules. You can ride a rented electric scooter on public roads, including cycle lanes. It is illegal to ride a rented electric scooter on a pavement or a motorway. You must have a full or provisional UK licence. 1 comment 1