Sunshine Coast mum Rebecca Cronan slams e-scooters after crash
An e-scooter given to a 12-year-old for getting good school grades has become a mother’s biggest regret as she watches her young daughter’s harrowing health fight after a life-threatening crash.
Sunshine Coast
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The mother of a bright, sports-obsessed 12-year-old, who suffered life-threatening injuries when she was struck by a car while riding an e-scooter last week, says letting her daughter ride an e-scooter to school was the biggest regret of her life.
Ruby-Storm Sarahmay Kayrooz was rushed to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital after suffering two collapsed lungs and possible brain damage on August 21.
Bystanders were credited with helping save Ruby’s life after she was hit and pinned under the car driven by a 21-year-old Maroochydore woman on her green P-plates on Main Rd.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said, as at the afternoon of August 30, no arrests were made or charges laid and an investigation continued.
Ruby’s mother, Rebecca Cronan, 46, of Bli Bli, now says letting her daughter ride an e-scooter to school was the worst mistake of her life and her number one biggest regret.
“I wish she’d never gotten the e-scooter,” her mother said.
“Kids shouldn’t be allowed to ride them unsupervised ever. Let alone to and from school.
“They’re not safe. They’re incredibly dangerous.
“There needs to be newer laws to prevent this from happening again.
“What we’ve been through is awful. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
Ruby remains in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital where she is making a miraculous recovery.
Although she escaped with no broken bones, young Ruby has no recollection of the week of the crash.
“The last thing she remembers is going with her sister to buy the e-scooter on the Sunday,” her mother said.
“Her grandmother bought it for her as a reward for her getting good grades at school.
“She doesn’t remember riding it to and from school Monday and Tuesday or those days at all.
“She doesn’t remember the crash.”
Ms Cronan said she was unsure how much longer they would need to stay in hospital.
“We still don’t know if she has brain damage or a head injury or what,” she said.
“They’re doing tests but she’s not passing them. Her memory isn’t good.
“She’s struggling to retain any information since the crash too.”
Her mother said it was Ruby’s bright pink helmet that saved her life.
“It was a good helmet, done up tight, and properly fitted,” she said.
“Everyone needs to always wear a helmet. Whether on an e-scooter, skateboard, or bike.
“It’s so important and would have been much worse if she wasn’t wearing one.”
Although relieved to still have her daughter, Ms Cronan said she would always regret ever letting her daughter ride an e-scooter.
“I regret it and will never do it again,” she said.
“The e-scooter wasn’t destroyed and is in perfect working condition but I’m not even going to sell it. I don’t want anyone else on it risking their life.
“Ruby won’t be allowed on an e-scooter ever again. None of my children will be.
“It’s been horrible. If she hadn’t been on the e-scooter this never would have happened.”
Just this week Sunshine Coast Council has unanimously voted to pull the pin on an e-scooter trial after community feedback revealed a majority of people did not want e-scooters on the region’s footpaths.
The council was provided with a review into the e-scooter trial with Neuron Mobility, which began last year, at the ordinary meeting on Thursday, August 29.
The review recommended the council end the trial on September 30, after 60 per cent of survey respondents said they did not wish to see it continue.
The recommendation comes as the Sunshine Coast University Hospital revealed 118 people had been treated in the emergency department for injuries sustained while riding e-scooters within the past 12 months.
Sunshine Coast Dr Andrew Hobbins-King said a majority of those people were treated for significant injuries.
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