'We feared it would happen': Oslo sees first death of electric scooter rider
A 68-year-old man died from injuries sustained in an electric scooter accident in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, police confirmed on Tuesday. The man becomes the first person in Oslo to die in an accident involving an e-scooter and the third in Norway.
The scooter user, who has not been named, was rushed to Oslo University Hospital on Saturday and put on life support following the accident.
“It is a tragic accident that has had fatal consequences,” Knut Nandrup from Oslo Police district told state broadcaster NRK.
The accident took place on a pedestrian path in Vollebekk. No other vehicles or people were involved in the accident.
The man was found on the path by a passerby in a car who stopped to administer first aid until emergency services arrived.
On Monday, his family decided to end the 68-year-old’s life-extending care when it became apparent that he would not recover from his injuries.
“He had massive head injuries, and his life was unable to be saved,” Nandrup said.
“Life support was turned off because there was no chance to save his life. This decision was made in consultation with the man’s relatives,” he added.
Henrik Siverts, one of several doctors from Oslo University Hospital who previously called for the devices to be more regulated, described the incident as tragic.
He also said that while the incident was unfortunate, it was not entirely unexpected.
“We have feared that something like this would happen for a long time. It is perhaps strange that it has not happened before now,” Siverts told NRK.
Scooter rental companies and local authorities have been under increasing pressure to tighten the rules and regulations for the devices following a surge in accidents.
Oslo Municipality has previously committed to cutting the number of scooters in the capital and introducing curfews and designated pick up and drop off points for the devices. The new changes will come into effect in September.
REVEALED: How Oslo will crackdown on electric scooters
Police have appealed to any potential witnesses who may have witnessed the accident or been in the area in the time leading up to the incident to come forward.
“We know little about what happened. There were no direct witnesses to the incident,” Nandrup said.
Nandrup also urged scooter users to wear a helmet.
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The scooter user, who has not been named, was rushed to Oslo University Hospital on Saturday and put on life support following the accident.
“It is a tragic accident that has had fatal consequences,” Knut Nandrup from Oslo Police district told state broadcaster NRK.
The accident took place on a pedestrian path in Vollebekk. No other vehicles or people were involved in the accident.
The man was found on the path by a passerby in a car who stopped to administer first aid until emergency services arrived.
On Monday, his family decided to end the 68-year-old’s life-extending care when it became apparent that he would not recover from his injuries.
“He had massive head injuries, and his life was unable to be saved,” Nandrup said.
“Life support was turned off because there was no chance to save his life. This decision was made in consultation with the man’s relatives,” he added.
Henrik Siverts, one of several doctors from Oslo University Hospital who previously called for the devices to be more regulated, described the incident as tragic.
He also said that while the incident was unfortunate, it was not entirely unexpected.
“We have feared that something like this would happen for a long time. It is perhaps strange that it has not happened before now,” Siverts told NRK.
Scooter rental companies and local authorities have been under increasing pressure to tighten the rules and regulations for the devices following a surge in accidents.
Oslo Municipality has previously committed to cutting the number of scooters in the capital and introducing curfews and designated pick up and drop off points for the devices. The new changes will come into effect in September.
REVEALED: How Oslo will crackdown on electric scooters
Police have appealed to any potential witnesses who may have witnessed the accident or been in the area in the time leading up to the incident to come forward.
“We know little about what happened. There were no direct witnesses to the incident,” Nandrup said.
Nandrup also urged scooter users to wear a helmet.
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