A 20-year-old IU student was in serious condition Saturday after he crashed an electric rideshare scooter and hit his head, police said.
Witnesses told police the student was traveling south on Fee Lane around 5:36 p.m. before losing control near the intersection with Law Lane, where he crashed and hit his head on the road, according to an IUPD release. He was not wearing a helmet.
Cpt. Craig Munroe said the student may have been trying to perform tricks.
The student was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital in serious condition. Munroe said his condition is unknown as of Monday night, but the injuries don’t seem to be life-threatening.
Munroe said the scooter was impounded. He doesn’t know if it was a Lime or a Bird but said it’s unimportant because the scooter itself didn’t malfunction.
This is the first serious scooter case reported to IUPD, Munroe said. However, it is likely that minor incidents have occurred and gone unreported.
“I’m sure there are others not brought to our attention,” Munroe said.
Although no charges have been filed, the case is active and being investigated as an operating while intoxicated incident, Munroe said. Electric scooters are classified as motor vehicles and treated the same as cars.
Police have not yet talked to the student about the incident.
A list of scooter safety tips included in the release advised riders to wear a helmet, ride with traffic and watch the road for debris and uneven surfaces.
