A 17-year-old scooter rider was killed Sunday afternoon after a collision with an SUV and a parked car along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, near Malcolm X Avenue, in Southeast D.C. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and later died despite lifesaving efforts, according to Shore News Network. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit has opened a probe into the fatal wreck.
Police lay out how the collision unfolded
Seventh District officers responded around 3:28 p.m. to the intersection of Malcolm X Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The preliminary investigation found that the teen was riding a 2025 Zhilong Fly Wing scooter in the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and was not wearing a helmet.
Police say a 2024 Dodge Hornet was slowing to pull to the curb and begin parking when the scooter attempted to pass on the passenger side. As the Dodge moved, the scooter struck the SUV’s passenger-side mirror, throwing the rider from the scooter. The scooter then hit the rear of a parked vehicle, according to the department. The driver of the Dodge stayed on scene and was not injured, police said.
Victim identified as Southeast D.C. teen
Shore News Network identified the rider as 17-year-old Demetrius Stuckey of Southeast D.C. The outlet reported that DC Fire and EMS transported Stuckey to a local hospital, where he later died despite efforts to save his life.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or who has video from the area to contact investigators through the department’s tip line.
Micromobility safety context
The crash underscores ongoing concerns about safety for riders of scooters and other micromobility devices when they mix with heavier vehicles. Research has found that collisions involving motor vehicles significantly increase the likelihood of severe injuries and that helmet use among scooter riders tends to be low.
A 2025 analysis in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research reported that involvement of a motor vehicle is a major predictor of serious outcomes and that scooter riders are generally younger than bicyclists, highlighting particular risks for teens using powered devices.
Investigation still underway
MPD’s Major Crash Investigations Unit continues to investigate the circumstances of the collision, which is listed under case number CCN 26085643. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text tips to 50411, the department said.
