Alexandra Headland e-scooter crash reveals danger, says George St man

A resident has spoken out about traffic dangers after a crash left two teens with critical injuries, as questions are raised over an e-scooter trial for the Sunshine Coast.

A concerned resident who witnessed the aftermath of a horror e-scooter and car collision has called on the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to investigate options to slow traffic on Alexandra Headland roads.

Two teenagers are in hospital, one with critical head injuries, following the crash on Tuesday night.

Police said a 13-year-old Mountain Creek boy was riding an e-scooter with a 13-year-old Buderim girl as a passenger eastbound along George St when a collision occurred with a silver Suzuki Vitara wagon travelling north along Mayfield Street about 7.15pm.

The driver and bystanders stopped to assist.

The teenagers are in stable conditions in Brisbane’s Queensland Children’s Hospital.

A teenage boy is fighting for life and a girl, 13, has suffered serious injuries after their e-scooter collided with a car at Alexandra Headland. Picture: 7News

It is understood the teenage girl lives close to where the crash took place.

Matheus Castro, 35, saw the aftermath of the crash as he travelled home.

Tassiane Moreschi, 36, five-month-old Giovanni Castro and Matheus Castro, 35, live on George St and witnessed the aftermath of the crash. Picture: Letea Cavander

He has lived on George St since May 2020 and said he was concerned about the increasing traffic on the roads connected to Buderim Av.

“Council should look into how to prevent this, especially Buderim Av can get busy,” Mr Castro said.

He said the increased traffic on Buderim Ave affected the roads connected to it and he was particularly concerned about the corner of Mayfield Rd and Buderim Ave, which was close to the intersection of the crash.

“I avoid taking that corner,” Mr Castro said.

Two 13-year-olds are in hospital after an e-scooter and car collision at Alexandra Headland.

The resident said the council could implement speed bumps or traffic lights or investigate other options to slow the traffic.

Mr Castro, who has a five-month-old, said he had considered moving following the incident.

“We want to raise our child somewhere where they can be on a street, outdoors,” he said.

Maroochydore ambulance senior operations supervisor Dianne Rigby told the media during a press conference on Wednesday e-scooters would not be an issue should riders adhere to the rules.

Maroochydore ambulance senior operations supervisor Dianne Rigby speaks about e-scooter safety at a press conference. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

“The safety on the roads with these things are important,” she said.

“People need to have two hands on the steering … they can’t be distracted by mobile devices, they need to be speed limited and make sure they actually slow down, particularly around pedestrians and particularly around vehicles.”

A council spokeswoman said the safety of road users was a high priority.

“The circumstances of the crash involving an e-scooter on Mayfield Road, Alexandra Headland will be discussed with investigating officers from the Queensland Police Service once their investigation concludes,” she said.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those involved in the incident.”

The council was also contacted for comment about its planned e-scooter trial.

A Sunshine Coast spokeswoman said the trial would go ahead and businesses could apply for a permit.

She said the trial permit’s validity would last from April 1 until September 30 next year.

The spokeswoman said safety was a high priority.

“Businesses applying for a trial permit will need to define their proposed route within the approved trial area and regulate the operation of their e-mobility fleet accordingly,” she said.

The spokeswoman said council did not have the authority to control privately owned scooters.

“By comparison, the businesses operating under a trial permit will be required by council to regulate the operation of their fleet of e-mobility devices and ensure the use of devices is undertaken in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations,” she said.

The Queensland Government announced new safety measures for e-scooters and other personal mobility devices on November 1, 2022. These included prohibiting children under the age of 12 from using an e-scooter.

Ms Rigby said paramedics had been called to a number of e-scooter incidents since they skyrocketed in popularity, but could not comment on whether she thinks the e-scooter trial was a good idea or not.