A seven-year-old Perth boy has been left with serious injuries, including a ripped-out tooth, after a shocking hit-and-run involving an electric scooter on a suburban footpath.
Footpath Collision Leaves Boy Bloodied and Traumatised
The incident occurred near a playground at Byford train station, in Perth's southeast, on Sunday. Young Archie was struck by the e-scooter while on the footpath, dragged for several metres, and suffered a severe facial injury that knocked out his tooth.
His shocked parents, Laura and Mark Drewett, said the attack happened without warning. "There was just blood everywhere," Laura Drewett recounted. "That was just the first thing I saw. I could not believe there was so much blood." The rider responsible immediately fled the scene, leaving the injured child behind.
The family has been left deeply traumatised, with the parents struggling to sleep. "All I see is that collision and all that blood," Drewett said. "I just wish there is more I could have done, but it just happened so fast." The entire event was captured on CCTV, and WA Police are now reviewing the footage in an effort to identify and locate the rider.
Police Crackdown Amid Rising Recklessness
This alarming case highlights a growing and dangerous trend across Western Australia. Police Minister Reece Whitby addressed the ongoing issue, stating, "We're still getting kids under 16 riding them, being reckless, speeding, not wearing a helmet."
The statistics are concerning. In the Joondalup district alone, more than two dozen youths have been charged with reckless riding of e-rideables so far in 2026. In a recent operation targeting anti-social behaviour linked to electric scooters and off-road bikes, WA Police seized and subsequently crushed more than 30 devices.
Acting Inspector Scott Gillis called social media footage of such antics "disturbing," noting it depicts "the alleged dangerous actions of the juveniles putting people at risk in our community."
A Tragic History and Calls for Reform
The potential consequences are fatal. In May last year, beloved father Thanh Phan, 51, died after being struck by an e-scooter in Perth. The rider, British backpacker Alicia Kemp, 24, was jailed in December after the court heard she was travelling at about 20km/h—double the legal limit—while drunk.
Phan is believed to be WA's first pedestrian death from an e-scooter accident. Since 2022, the state has recorded at least a dozen rider fatalities, some of whom were children.
In response to Phan's death, a WA parliamentary inquiry made several safety recommendations, including the introduction of ID stickers, similar to number plates. Minister Whitby confirmed this proposal is under consideration.
Furthermore, from term one in 2026, children under 16 will be prohibited from riding or storing e-rideables at all public schools in Western Australia.
Archie's parents have now joined the chorus calling for urgent action to prevent further tragedies. They are pleading with authorities and the community to ensure no other child is hurt or killed by the reckless use of these devices on public paths and footways.
