Two children were seriously hurt Thursday afternoon when the motorized scooter they were riding collided with a bus in Haverhill, prompting a heavy emergency response and a brief shutdown of a busy intersection. Both kids were taken to a hospital, and authorities say it is still not clear exactly how the scooter and bus came into contact.
Haverhill police said the crash was reported at about 3:55 p.m. at the intersection of Portland Street and 5th Avenue, and both children were transported from the scene for treatment, according to NBC Boston. Officers asked drivers to steer clear of the area while investigators and medics worked the scene and urged anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact the department at 978-373-1212. Police have not released the children’s ages or their current condition.
State rules for motorized scooters
Under Massachusetts law, motorized scooters are treated as their own vehicle class with traffic rules that can be enforced, and violations are citable under G.L. c. 90, §1E, according to Mass.gov. The Registry of Motor Vehicles driver manual also spells out scooter requirements, including helmet and licensing guidance, and notes that operators must follow general traffic laws. Investigators often look to those guidelines after serious crashes, per the state’s Driver's Manual.
Local context and safety concerns
Haverhill has seen other serious incidents involving children and vehicles in recent years. Earlier this year, Hoodline covered a case where a 9-Year-Old Airlifted after being struck by a vehicle, highlighting lingering safety concerns around high-traffic intersections. That incident, along with other local coverage, has fueled calls for closer attention to curb-to-curb safety near schools and bus stops.
In Thursday’s crash, investigators say they have not yet identified the bus operator publicly or clarified whether the vehicle was a transit or school bus, and they have not released information on any potential charges or citations, according to NBC Boston. Police described the investigation as active and said additional details will be shared when available.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Haverhill Police Department at 978-373-1212, according to the department’s website, Haverhill Police Department. City officials did not immediately provide further comment.
