The Torrevieja Local Police are carrying out an investigation to identify the driver of an e-scooter who fled the scene after colliding with a 69-year-old man. Sources say that the individual is still in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Elche General Hospital.
The pedestrian was hit by the e-scooter, who subsequently fled the scene without offering any assistance, for reasons that are still being investigated.
The injured individual was transported to the Elche General University Hospital after receiving first aid. As a result of his severe brain injuries, he is currently in the ICU. The municipal authorities are currently collecting evidence that could potentially identify the individual responsible for the accident.
The accident has sparked controversy among local residents, who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the increasingly frequent circulation of e-scooters at high speeds on pavements and pedestrian areas, frequently without supervision or identification.
The recent incident has reignited the discussion regarding the necessity of enhancing the regulations and surveillance of personal mobility vehicles in urban areas, particularly in tourist destinations such as Torrevieja, where their use has increased significantly in recent years.
In recent years, e-scooters have transitioned from being a rare sight to a ubiquitous presence in urban areas, particularly in cities such as Alicante, where their utilisation has become increasingly prevalent. This novel mode of transport presents substantial obstacles to road safety, such as the prevention of accidents and the regulation of pace in pedestrian areas.
In April of last year, the Alicante City Council implemented a targeted campaign to monitor the pace of Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) in order to reduce speeding and reinforce regulations.
The Local Police have conducted over 20 inspections since the beginning of the year, during which approximately 8,300 measurements have been recorded. The results indicate a high rate of non-compliance, with over 5,500 violations and 630 penalties for exceeding the 25 km/h speed limit.
Penalty
The driver who fled’s actions could be considered a crime of injuries due to serious negligence, as defined in article 152 of the Penal Code, and a crime of failure to provide assistance, as defined in article 195.1. This article imposes prison sentences of six months to one year or a fine of six to twelve months on anyone who fails to provide assistance to a helpless person in clear and serious danger when they can do so without risk to themselves or third parties.
Additionally, if it is established that the scooter driver voluntarily fled the site of the accident after causing the injuries, they may be subject to the aggravating circumstance of Article 382 bis, which was implemented following the reform of the Penal Code to increase the severity of penalties for hit-and-run road accidents.
Author: Derek Appleton
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