12-Year-Old Girl Killed, Another Hospitalized After Motorized Scooter Collides with School Bus in Massachusetts
A 12-year-old girl has died and another was injured after the motorized scooter they were riding collided with a school bus in Haverhill, Massachusetts, officials said.
The crash occurred around 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at the intersection of Portland Street and 5th Avenue, according to the Essex County District Attorney's office. Emergency responders transported both children to nearby hospitals, where one girl later succumbed to her injuries.
Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Haverhill Police Chief Wayne Tracy confirmed the fatality. The second girl, whose identity has not been released, has since been discharged from the hospital, NBC10 and WCVB reported.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene. “It looked like they tried to hit their brakes to try to stop and like speed wobble, and they smashed right into it,” Nic Mello, a bystander who rushed to help, told WCVB. “I saw them fall to the ground, the scooter got smashed. At first, I didn’t really believe it, but then I heard the girl screaming, so I started to run to her.” Another witness recalled seeing both girls under the bus “on the floor, not moving,” according to NBC10.
The incident has sparked broader conversations about the safety of motorized scooters, which are increasingly popular but often unregulated. In a letter to district staff, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta emphasized the risks. “While these vehicles are widely available and, in many cases, unregulated, they can pose very real dangers — especially for young adolescents who may not yet have the experience, judgment or understanding of traffic laws needed to operate them safely,” she wrote. “Many young people ride friends’ scooters or ride together, often without fully appreciating the risks involved. These conversations could save a life.”
The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, along with the Haverhill Police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, are investigating the cause of the crash.
In response to the tragedy, Haverhill Public Schools has set up drop-in grief counseling services at J.G. Whittier Middle School for students, families, and staff. “Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this unimaginable loss,” Marotta wrote, also expressing support for the second girl involved.
Read the original article on People.