Volunteer Aids Injured E-Scooter Rider Who Struck Petaluma Pedestrian

PETALUMA, CA — A routine morning drive turned urgent in seconds when an on-duty volunteer with the Petaluma Police Department witnessed a crash involving a scooter rider.

The volunteer was traveling along North McDowell just before 10 a.m. Wednesday when a 61-year-old man riding an electric scooter struck a pedestrian after traveling on the sidewalk and against the flow of traffic.

The impact left the rider with a head injury. The pedestrian was not injured.

The volunteer stopped, applied pressure to the rider’s wound, and called dispatch to request officers and medical personnel. First responders transported the injured man to a local hospital for treatment.

Under California law, riders must operate e-scooters in bike lanes or on roadways, not sidewalks. Scooters cannot exceed 15 miles per hour, and riders must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license or permit. While helmets are only required for riders under 18, authorities strongly recommend them for all users.