Eight-year-old girl hospitalised after e-scooter collision
<p dir="ltr">An eight-year-old girl has been left with serious injuries after being run over by a man on an e-scooter. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Lilli Ritzka was walking along a footpath in North Coogee in Perth’s west on Sunday when she was hit by a rider doing 40km/h. </p>
<p dir="ltr">She was flung almost 10m in the air leaving her with serious injuries to her forehead, cheek, nose and bottom lip. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"The e-scooter was riding in the middle so he just crashed into me," little Lilli told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-e-scooter-crash-father-calls-tougher-laws/26ea4c13-6cd1-41e8-862d-a9d3795adb26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Her father Volker rushed her to hospital where she spent two nights there in fear of permanent scarring.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“It was a strong impact, a big, big scooter, a really heavy vehicle,” he told <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/eightyearold-girls-very-shocking-and-very-painful-escooter-ordeal/news-story/41e6dbfdacf36fd756dd8be06b00a227" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“It could have been much worse easily.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Volker said the rider apologised but then rode off despite his best attempts at getting him to stay. </p>
<p dir="ltr">A man in his 20s was later arrested but was released without charge. </p>
<p dir="ltr">St John executive director ambulance operations Deon Brink said many riders are not adhering to the speed limit and almost all injuries involving e-scooters are serious. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Wear a helmet, abide by speed limits, ride responsibly and preferably not late at night or in the early hours of the morning,” he said. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>
