Four-Year-Old Hurt in Bournemouth E-Scooter Smash
Dorset Police have warned e-scooter riders to watch out for pedestrians after a serious collision on Bournemouth seafront left a four-year-old boy injured.
The crash happened around 1pm on Friday, 3 September 2021, near Boscombe Pier during the busy Bournemouth Air Festival. The young boy from Christchurch was rushed to Poole Hospital with a suspected fractured collarbone.
Man Quizzed Over Crash on Promenade
Officers spoke to the e-scooter rider, a man in his 30s from Lancashire, and interviewed him on suspicion of driving offences under The Road Traffic Act. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The e-scooter was hired through Beryl, part of an official Government-backed trial running in Bournemouth and Poole that allows legal scooter hire with lower speed limits. However, privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public pavements, cycle lanes, promenades, and parks.
Police Clampdown at Air Festival
“This collision happened during the Bournemouth Air Festival, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people visit the seafront… We urge people not to ride e-scooters inside the festival site because of the sheer number of people,” said Police Sergeant Lee Savage.
Dorset officers and council staff will stop e-scooter riders inside the festival grounds. Privately owned scooters will be seized, while hired Beryl scooters’ riders will be told to dismount. Offenders face prosecution under the Road Traffic Act.
Ongoing Crackdown on Illegal E-Scooter Use
Illegal e-scooter use is a major focus of Dorset Police’s Operation Relentless, targeting anti-social behaviour. This summer, officers held two action days and issued warnings to more than 40 illegal riders this year alone.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “This must have been a horrible experience for the young child involved and I wish him a speedy recovery. This incident highlights the dangers posed by using e-scooters in public places.”
He added: “If you’re heading to the Air Festival on a Beryl scooter, don’t ride it inside the event – it’s far too busy. And private e-scooters used in public risk being seized.”
