After Another Boy's Death, Experts Appeal

Just a month and a half after a fourteen-year-old boy died in Metković, another young life was extinguished in a traffic accident involving an electric scooter. Despite the efforts of doctors at the Zagreb University Hospital Center, the minor succumbed on Monday, August 3, 2026, to injuries sustained in a fall from a scooter on Gudci Street.

According to findings from the Zagreb police, the minor was riding a Kukirin electric scooter without a protective helmet and was carrying another minor who also was not wearing a helmet. They were traveling on the roadway, and due to inappropriate speed, both fell to the ground. The driver was transported to the Zagreb University Hospital Center with severe injuries, where he later died.

Daily Injuries at the Emergency Department

At the Zagreb Children's Hospital Clinic, they encounter injuries to children from electric scooter use almost daily. Dr. Mario Kurtanjek, a pediatric surgery specialist, described the scope of the problem for 24sata.

"What worries us most is that these electric scooters, which children either borrow or receive as gifts from friends, parents, or godparents, reach high speeds, and children are not aware of the danger such speeds can pose, which is why such severe injuries occur. Most often, these are fractures of the extremities, long bones, arms, and legs, and we are increasingly seeing head injuries. That is, severe head injuries that often require urgent neurosurgical treatment and care. In a smaller number of cases, we also find spinal injuries, not directly fractures, but severe contusions. And what we see more and more often, with such high speeds and falls, are injuries to internal organs-ruptured spleens, ruptures or hematomas on the liver and kidneys."

Dr. Kurtanjek also highlights the characteristic abrasions that accompany these accidents. "These are abrasions where the skin is damaged almost all over the body, and most often on the head because they don't wear helmets. That's the biggest problem," he said. He emphasizes that children often do not use scooters for transport to school but rather as a form of play, performing tricks and riding on one wheel.

Responsibility Lies with Adults

Goran Husinec, a traffic expert, is clear in his stance that the blame is not on the children. "Someone bought and gave that electric scooter to the minor, and whoever bought that scooter should have known that it simply isn't for them and that two people shouldn't ride on it. And if it has a stronger motor, because there are many types, they should have known that the limiter can be removed and that the scooter can go faster than allowed. The child is not at fault. That's why they are a child because they lack life experience to know what is dangerous and what isn't. To them, it's all fun, and they pick up a friend, overload the scooter because it wasn't designed for two people, the center of gravity shifts, and tragedy happens," Husinec stated for 24sata.

He added that these vehicles are designed for speeds of 10 to at most 20 km/h, and anything above that is extremely dangerous. According to the law, electric scooters must not be ridden by those under 14 years of age. Those over 14 may ride scooters only on bicycle paths or lanes, and where these do not exist, on the sidewalk at walking speed of 5 to 6 km/h. Wearing a protective helmet is mandatory, and carrying other passengers is prohibited. Additionally, the engine displacement must not exceed 25 cubic centimeters, the electric motor power must not exceed 0.6 kW, and the maximum factory speed must not exceed 25 km/h.

This year, three people have died as a result of traffic accidents involving electric scooters, including the boy from Metković and the minor from the Velika Gorica area.