With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Man Dies In Hit-And-Run Crash After Falling Off E-Scooter In Santa Monica
E-scooters in L.A. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
()
Just over a week after CNN reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating electric scooter-related injuries, a man was struck and killed after falling off a privately owned e-scooter in Santa Monica.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers received a call at 8:30 p.m. on March 15 to the 2700 block of 3rd Street--near 3rd and Hill--where a 41-year-old man was hit by a car after tumbling from the scooter and into the road. It's not clear how he fell, how badly he was injured in the fall or how long he was in the road before being hit.
The man succumbed to his injuries later at a nearby hospital.
#SMPD is seeking public assistance in locating a fatal hit and run suspect. A white 4-door sedan stuck a 41-year old male before fleeing the scene near the 2700 block of 3rd St. https://t.co/oMEUK66TLv pic.twitter.com/zSTQtFKDSp
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) March 18, 2019
Support for LAist comes from
The victim's name hasn't been released yet. The driver of the car allegedly stopped and got out of his vehicle after hitting the man, then got back in and drove off.
Despite the vehicles' ubiquity, riders in L.A. continue to rack up injuries. A study released in January looked at medical records from two UCLA hospitals and found that over the course of one year, 249 people showed up at their emergency rooms with e-scooter related injuries.
The CDC investigation is focusing on Austin for now, where they are reportedly examining medical records from a two-month period. Texas has seen at least one scooter-related death, and, like many cities and states around the country, a spike in scooter-related injuries.
Correction: The headline on an earlier version of this story was incomplete and incorrect. It has been updated to accurately reflect the crime that allegedly took place. LAist regrets the error.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated that this was the second death involving a scooter. In fact, the first death involved a mini bike, which was initially reported to police as a scooter. The incorrect information has been removed. LAist regrets the error.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist