Elderly cyclist suffers fractures, falls into coma following crash with e-scooter rider

Singapore—An elderly woman suffered from a serious brain injury and several fractures after an accident with an e-scooter rider.

Madam Ong Bee Eng (65) regularly rode her bicycle for more than 10 years according to her son. She was quite familiar with the neighbourhood.

At around 10pm on Sept 21, Mdm Ong was riding her bicycle along Block 539 Bedok North Street 3. She had just attended a wake and was headed home.

As she was about to cross the pedestrian lane, an e-scooter travelling fast reportedly crashed into her.

People inside a nearby coffee shop heard the crash and went outside to see Mdm Ong and the e-scooter rider fallen on the ground.

Read: Man on e-scooter fined S$4.5k for assaulting elderly man he nearly bumped into

Mdm Ong was bloody and unconscious when she was rushed to Changi General Hospital (CGH).

She suffered fractures on her ribs and collarbone and is currently in a coma.

“Doctors say she could be left in a vegetative state after her operation. We are praying that she will wake up,” said Ng Chin Kai (41), Mdm Ong’s son in an interview with The Straits Times.

Police officers confiscated the e-scooter which was discovered to be “heavily modified” and exceeded the regulated 20 kg weight limit.

Under the Active Mobility Act, PMDs such as e-scooters have to be under 20 kg and not wider than 70 cm. They can only be used on shared paths at up to 25 kmh or footpaths at up to 10 kmh.

The 20-year-old e-scooter rider was conscious when he was taken to CGH. He was then arrested for “causing grievous hurt by a rash act.” -/TISG

Can PMD users be taught to use their devices responsibly?