Two rushed to Townsville University Hospital after e-scooter crashes

The police minister is pushing for people to take part in the e-scooter inquiry as an investiation is launched into a crash where a man was found ‘unresponsive’.

A man has been rushed to Townsville University Hospital with life-threatening head injuries after crashing an e-scooter on Dalrymple Road in Mount Louisa. 13 June 2025

Two separate e-scooter crashes in Townsville have left a man fighting for his life and a woman injured.

In the early hours of Friday morning, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said officers came across a 34-year-old man unresponsive after a crash.

Initial investigations show around 4:20am he was riding an e-scooter along Dalrymple road in Mount Louisa when he lost control and crashed.

The man who suffered life-threatening head injuries was rushed to Townsville University Hospital around 4:30am.

Police are investigating after an e-scooter crash in Mount Louisa.

A Townsville Hospital and Health Service spokesman said the man remains in a critical but stable condition.

One lane of Dalrymple Road remains closed as forensic crash investigators examine the scene.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.

Police are urging anyone with information or relevant vision to come forward.

On late Thursday afternoon, another police crew came across another crash where a car had hit a woman in her 30s riding an e-scooter.

The woman was found just past 6pm on Angus Smith Drive and Richardson street and had multiple abrasions across her body as a result of the crash.

She was transported to Townsville University Hospital for treatment.

A man has suffered life-threatening injuries after an e-scooter crash. Picture Jami Roberts

Police Minister Dan Purdie, who was in Townsville speaking to media about a new helicopter joining the POLAIR fleet, said he was briefed on the serious e-scooter crash.

“E-scooters and their ongoing use are of concern to communities across Queensland, that’s why we’ve announced the parliamentary inquiry,” he said.

“And we’re calling for all members of the public, stakeholder groups to make a submission to that inquiry.”

The state government has been speaking with law enforcement agencies to find a balance between making the mode of transport available and protecting people as well.

“The parliamentary inquiry is looking at other states as to what they’re doing and what has been effective and isn’t,” Mr Purdie said.

“We’ll continue to call for those submissions, and I’m calling to all your readers to please make a submission to the parliamentary inquiry.”

If there was a chance of speeding up the inquiry, Mr Purdie said it wasn’t a decision for him to make.

“I know it’s a complex issue and there’s a lot of solutions, we need to make sure we find the right balance,” he said.

Making sure there are options such as public transport explored in the inquiry.

“That’s an ongoing issue as well, we need to invest in public transport and connectivity,” Mr Purdie said.

“It’s often young people that use scooters to school or get to work and we need to make sure they have options whether it’s public transport or otherwise.”

Dan Purdie, Minister for Police and Emergency Services General coverage from inside parliamentary sitting day and Question Time. Thursday June 12, 2025. Picture, John Gass

Mr Purdie said everyone from city councils to police, to school principals were working on solutions.

“Everyone is working to try and make sure that young people particularly have access to be able to get to school or work,” he said.

“It’s a big piece of work and that’s why there’s police, other people have offered solutions and I think a parliamentary inquiry is probably the best way forward to identify those solutions.”

From Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8, Townsville police ran an operation targeting dangerous e-scooter riding and road rule breaches.

Officers issued 47 traffic infringement notices including 21 fail to wear a helmet, 18 ride on prohibited road, four carry passenger, and one each for exceed speed limit, disobey yellow light, fail to keep left side of road and fail to keep left side of median strip.

Townsville Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder said there had been an increase in devastating incidents involving e-scooters.

“Sadly, we have had three deaths in Townsville on e-scooters since 2024 and numerous people who have received life-changing injuries from e-scooter crashes,” he said.

“E-scooters may seem like a great idea, but they come with significant risks, especially for younger, less experienced users.”

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Originally published as Two rushed to Townsville University Hospital after e-scooter crashes