A shocking series of electric bike and scooter crashes across Queensland has left eight people in hospital, with most victims being teenagers and young adults. The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) responded to multiple incidents between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, treating a range of serious injuries.
A Night of Distress Across the State
The chaotic night began in Ashgrove at 6:18pm, where a man in his 20s was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with an arm injury after his e-scooter collided with a vehicle on Dalmore Street. He was reported as stable.
Shortly after, at 6:47pm in Queenstown, a teenage girl sustained head and neck injuries in an e-scooter crash on Armstrong Street and was transported to Charters Towers Hospital.
The incidents continued through the evening and into the early hours:
- At 7:52pm in Capella, a man in his 40s injured his hand on Scottes Peaks Road and was taken to Emerald Hospital.
- Around 9:56pm in Woodridge, a man in his 20s suffered an arm injury on Smith Road and went to Logan Hospital.
- At 10:38pm in Cairns, a teenage boy was hospitalised with facial and head injuries after a crash on Spence Street.
- Just before 11pm in Pilaba, a man in his 20s was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital with arm and leg pain following an incident on Taylor Street.
- Shortly before 2am in Bli Bli, a teenage boy suffered facial and head injuries in an e-bicycle crash on Wharf Road and was transported to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
- The final reported incident occurred at 3:16am in North Ward, Townsville, where a teenage girl with an arm injury was taken to Townsville University Hospital after an e-scooter crash on Cook Street.
A Tragic Context of Fatalities
These distressing hospitalisations follow a deadly year for electric bike and scooter riders in Queensland. Twelve people have lost their lives in related accidents over the past 12 months, including several children.
In late October, a 15-year-old boy died after crashing his e-bike in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Just three days prior, an 8-year-old boy was killed in a head-on collision with another e-bike on the Sunshine Coast. In September, a 17-year-old boy died when the e-bike he was riding collided with a Mitsubishi Outlander, also on the Gold Coast.
Urgent Warnings Ahead of Christmas
With the Christmas gift-buying season underway, authorities are issuing stern warnings to parents. Police urge anyone considering purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter to ensure it is legal, highlighting risks from modified bikes, unsafe riding practices, and upcoming changes to power limits.
Police and experts have also raised the alarm about fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries in these devices. Low-quality batteries, poor charging habits, and damaged devices can cause them to ignite without warning.
Authorities advise riders to only use reputable products and to avoid leaving batteries charging unattended, especially overnight. This latest spate of incidents serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers associated with the popular modes of transport.
