Fairfax County police are emphasizing safety after a fatal collision between a 9-year-old boy riding an electric scooter and a minivan in Herndon’s Highland Mews neighborhood last night (July 23).
The driver of a 2012 Honda Odyssey had just turned left from Highland Mews Court into a parking area in the 3000 block of Madden Court, when the child struck the vehicle’s rear on the passenger side, the Fairfax County Police Department said during a press conference today (July 24).
“At this point, we have found that the adult female driver was operating that vehicle in a safe manner, and at this point, the investigation is still ongoing,” Capt. Harold Morris, the department’s assistant traffic division commander, said.
He said that from the initial investigation, the child did not appear to be wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Police are still investigating what class of scooter the child was riding.
“There’s no indication at this time that there’s any unsafe or reckless manner in which the driver, an adult female, was operating this van,” Morris said.
The driver remained on the scene, and the child was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition. The boy died there from his injuries.
Representatives from the FCPD’s victim services division and health and wellness division, along with chaplains, responded to the scene and to the hospital “to be with the families, the family of the nine-year-old, and also the family, the driver of the minivan,” Morris said.
“We want to take this time to also ensure that everyone understands that with these electric vehicles, with bicycles, whether you’re a pedestrian on the road, that you want to take safety precautions at all times,” Morris added.
“Whether that’s wearing a helmet, it could be a reflective band you’re wearing on your arm, high-visibility clothing, to proceed in crosswalks, and just be seen,” he continued. “You don’t want to make yourself a victim…and you want to make sure that you protect yourself, your family, and your community, so that we do not have any more tragic events, as the one we experienced last night.”
Fairfax County recently updated its code to require anyone under 15 to wear a protective helmet while riding on an electrically powered scooter, e-bike or motorized skateboard on local roads.
An investigation into yesterday’s crash is still underway, but police say “alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors.”
