81-Year-Old Dies After Being Run Down By E-Scooter: St. Pete Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — An 81-year-old woman died after being run over by two women on a rented electric scooter in downtown St. Pete, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

Two women on a black Veo e-scooter, rented through a city-run initiative, were heading east on the north sidewalk near 1033 Central Ave. N. in the Edge District, on Sept. 11 when they rode into Silvia Henao just before 7:30 p.m.

Henao and another pedestrian were walking west on the sidewalk at the time of the crash, which knocked her to the ground.

The woman operating the scooter didn’t stop or take any action when approaching the pedestrians, police said.

Henao was brought to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries. She died from her injuries on Saturday.

The women on the scooter stayed at the scene after the crash and cooperated with the investigation, the agency said.

The city rents out two e-scooters along Central Avenue and other parts of the city — seated Razor scooters and standing Veo scooters. The scooters are rented using phone apps.

Sidewalk riding on the scooters isn’t allowed, according to the city website. Scooters must be ridden in bike lanes or on streets with a speed limit of 30 mph. Only one rider is allowed on each scooter.

Police didn’t say whether the woman operating the scooter was ticketed or will face any charges.