A 52-year-old man riding an electric scooter in Salt Lake City died Wednesday night after a collision that investigators say began when another vehicle cut him off. Police said he was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where he later died, and officers shut down part of the area so they could document the scene and gather evidence.
What police say
As reported by KSL NewsRadio, Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race said the rider tried to veer away after being cut off, then was struck by a westbound vehicle. Police identified him only as a 52-year-old man who had been on his way to an appointment when the crash happened. Investigators told KSL they were reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses at the scene to sort out the exact sequence of events.
Safety context
Salt Lake City emergency departments saw a sharp rise in scooter-related visits after shared-scooter programs arrived downtown, according to a 2019 University of Utah review, as per PubMed. A national analysis of NEISS data also found that e-scooter injuries increased significantly from 2017 to 2022, particularly in urban areas, according to JAMA Network Open. Public-health researchers say improvements such as safer street design and consistent helmet use can help reduce serious trauma when these crashes occur.
Investigation ongoing
Unified Police told KSL NewsRadio that the driver involved stayed at the scene, and detectives are asking anyone with video or additional information to contact investigators. It was not immediately known whether any citations or criminal charges would be filed, with officials saying more details will be released as the investigation moves forward.
The deadly crash is feeding into the ongoing local debate over micromobility safety and how to protect people who walk, bike, and ride scooters on city streets. Salt Lake City leaders have previously examined scooter rules and potential infrastructure changes, including protected lanes and public education campaigns aimed at cutting down on collisions, according to Deseret News. For now, investigators are still working to piece together what happened in the moments before impact.
