Another British Columbia youth has been injured in an e-scooter crash with a vehicle, prompting police to reiterate that riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter. The incident occurred in Nanaimo on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, when a commercial van collided with a 15-year-old boy riding an e-scooter on a multi-use pathway adjacent to the road at about 2 p.m. The teen sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene, according to Nanaimo RCMP.
Police confirmed that the driver of the van remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Both the youth and the driver received violation tickets. The youth was cited for riding underage and for not wearing a helmet. The driver was ticketed for an unspecified violation.
Rise in E-Scooter Accidents Among Youth
This collision is the third e-scooter crash involving a youth in a week and the fourth this month, as health officials report a surge in such accidents. On Monday, a 13-year-old was seriously injured in Maple Ridge, and a separate crash on Tuesday involved a 15-year-old boy on an e-dirt bike on the Barnet Highway in Burnaby. Two weeks prior, a 12-year-old was injured in an e-scooter crash in North Vancouver.
According to B.C. Children’s Hospital, e-scooter injuries among children in the province more than doubled in a single year. The hospital recorded 81 e-scooter-related emergency room visits in 2025 and 2026, up from 37 the previous year. More than half of those injured were aged 13 to 15, below B.C.’s legal riding age of 16.
Police Remind Public of Safety Rules
Nanaimo authorities are reminding the public that the minimum age to ride an e-scooter is 16, and approved helmets are mandatory. The maximum speed for an e-scooter is 25 kilometres per hour. “We urge parents to ensure their children are aware of these regulations to prevent further injuries,” said a Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Burnaby RCMP is seeking witnesses or dashcam footage of the Barnet Highway crash that left a 15-year-old boy in hospital. At about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of a serious collision involving an e-dirt bike westbound on Barnet Highway near Cariboo Road North. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene, and the teen was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Growing Concern Over Youth E-Scooter Use
Health officials and police are increasingly concerned about the rise in e-scooter accidents among youth. “These are preventable incidents,” said Dr. Sarah Thompson, a pediatric emergency physician at B.C. Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing a troubling trend of children being injured, many of whom are too young to legally ride.”
The hospital’s data shows that e-scooter-related emergency visits jumped from 37 in 2024–2025 to 81 in 2025–2026, with the majority involving youth under 16. The injuries range from minor scrapes to serious head trauma and fractures.
Police continue to enforce e-scooter regulations, including age restrictions and helmet requirements. They also remind riders to avoid riding on roads where prohibited and to be aware of traffic. “We want everyone to enjoy these devices safely,” said Constable James Lee of Nanaimo RCMP. “That means following the rules of the road and wearing proper safety gear.”
