The “best mate” of the Rotherhithe man who died in an e-scooter accident in Bermondsey earlier this summer has called for a stricter ban on using the vehicles on roads.
Michael Harris, 44, died about three weeks after he was allegedly hit by a car on Long Lane on June 19. His leg and ankle were broken in the accident and he was taken to hospital before being discharged. Police say they are still unsure if Michael was hit by a car.
In mid-July Michael collapsed at the house he lived in with his best friend and his friend’s mother. He was taken back to hospital, where he sadly died.
The friend, who asked not to be named, said the ambulance crew told him they suspected a blood clot from Michael’s leg injuries could be the reason for his collapse. The cause of Michael’s death is still unconfirmed and a Met Police investigation is ongoing.
You are not allowed to ride e-scooters on roads, unless they are part of the TfL hire trial, in which case they can be ridden through certain boroughs, including Southwark. This does not appear to stop many people from riding t
heir own bikes on roads and on pavements, which has had serious consequences on several recent occasions in south London.
Last month, a three-year-old child suffered life-changing injuries in Myatt’s Fields Park after being ‘hit by an unidentified e-scooter rider.
Previously a man was left unconscious in the road in Rotherhithe after being allegedly knocked out by an e-scooter illegally riding on the pavement.
Elsewhere a teenager was killed in Bromley after he was ‘hit by a car’ while riding an e-scooter on July 18.
Michael’s friend said he wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of riding e-scooters on roads to avoid more tragic deaths. He paid tribute to his “fantastic” friend, who he said worked as a porter at King’s College Hospital.
“We knew each other for 27 years. We used to work security, for football and music. He’s never been in trouble with the law. He was a really private person.
“He was going to Guy’s Hospital to get his hearing aid changed [when the accident took place]. We were going to go to the pub afterwards. It was such a shock to hear about what happened.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police said earlier this month: “Police were called on Saturday, 19 June to a report of an e-scooter rider injured while on Long Lane, Southwark. Officers spoke to the victim who reported his rear wheel had been hit which caused him to fall off the e-scooter. The man suffered a broken leg and was taken to hospital and later discharged.
“On Monday, 12 July officers were informed the man had died. The Met’s Serious Collision’s Investigation Unit are investigating. No arrests have been made. A file is now being prepared for the coroner.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.53pm on 19 June to reports of a collision involving an electric scooter and a car on Long Lane, SE1.
“We sent an ambulance crew, who treated a man at the scene and took him to a hospital.”
Its pretty sad that more MSM aren’t reporting on these E Scooter ,thanks for doing this. I have many many films from my cctv outside my business in loampit vale Lewisham showing E Scooter riders some doing 20mph plus riding past on the pavement ,cyclists too but Lewisham police are doing nothing. Sadikhan meanwhile still supports their use and has ignored my tweets about these. Its tragic.
Can something be done, seriously, about wheeled vehicles on the pavement. I have had to duck out of the way of bikes and scooters too scared to ride in the road where they become vulnerable. Instead they terrorise pedestrians.
If I was to knock them all off their bikes or scooters, I would be committing a crime, right? Well let’s try crime prevention. Smarten up!!
r.i.p brother in law
Unfortunately, Michael is one of 7 e-scooter riders killed this summer alone (8June to 5 August) – one every 8 days. The total for England & Wales is now 11 since 2019. ie
2019 – 1 death.
2020 – 2 deaths.
2021 – 8 deaths (to end August only) – a clear trend.
All were riding private e-scooters, illegally in public. the average age is 37 with almost half in their 50s. Almost half involved no other vehicle; the riders lost control. Rented e-scooters have killed no-one, yet, but the Dept for Transport hand Transport for London have approved up to 19,800 rented e-scooters across Greater London. Private e-scooters remain illegal in public. For details search PACTS.
This has been going on for a long time and the police / councils are just not interested . What they are doing is illegal . The have no insurance and no driving license . If they kill someone they are just like any other vehicle and liable for prosecution and prison . Lawless London