4 days ago
E-scooter fatality in Townsville as severe head injuries become major hospital concern
New data shows e-scooter-related injuries are escalating in Queensland only days after a fatality in the state's north.
Forensic Crash Unit investigators are probing an incident in Townsville on the weekend when an 18-year-old rider crashed an electric scooter on the Flinders Highway.
The teen from Mount Louisa was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died.
The death is also followed by new data from the Jamieson Trauma Institute which shows presentations to 30 Queensland emergency departments have increased to 150 per month, up from 100 per month two years ago.
The research, funded by the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital Foundation and Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, will form the basis of a submission to the state government's inquiry into e-transport safety.
Chair of trauma surveillance and data analytics Professor Kirsten Vallmuur said private e-scooter riders now made up two-thirds of e-scooter hospital presentations.
"These riders are usually travelling at higher speeds and on roads, often for weekday work-related commutes, are regular riders and often wear helmets," she said.
"They sustain more severe injuries and have a higher proportion requiring ambulances and admission to hospital."
The research also revealed severe facial and head injuries have become a major concern for hospitals.
In Townsville there were 413 e-scooter injury presentations to the public emergency department in 2024, jumping from 265 the year prior.
Townsville acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the latest road fatality was an "unimaginable tragedy".
"Council will be doing its part to assist the Queensland government with its parliamentary enquiry into e-scooter safety."
Commercial e-scooters were approved by the city council in 2020.
Royal Brisbane emergency specialist Dr Gary Mitchell said healthcare workers were frustrated about the growing number of injuries.
"We're seeing patients coming in who've come off at higher speeds without helmets on board, with alcohol on board," he said.
"Often these patients need a trauma response so we need to have a full team to come see and assess these patients.
Insurer RACQ is behind calls for major changes to e-scooter rules, including advocating for full-faced protection for private e-scooter use.
"RACQ has been advocating for full-faced helmets to be mandatory for people using private stand up e-scooters, and for hire scooters to transition to more stable sit-down models that have a lower centre of gravity," said the insurer's head of public policy, Dr Michael Kane.
Queensland Police said more than 2,700 infringements were issued between November 2022 and December 2024 to e-bike and e-scooter riders for illegal road use.
A parliamentary inquiry into e-transport will focus on a number of areas including benefits, safety risks and enforcement approaches.
A report is required to be tabled by March 30 next year.
