Man Seriously Hurt After Fall From Scooter Near UT-Austin

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A man sustained potentially life-threatening injuries after falling off a motorized scooter near UT-Austin on Saturday night, medics said.

The incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. at West 29th and Guadalupe streets, Austin-Travis County EMS medics said on Twitter. The patient, a man estimated to be in his 40s, was rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were deemed serious and potentially life-threatening.

Anecdotal reports from doctors suggest medical clinics are seeing an increased number of patients with scooter-related injuries, but they're generally minor wounds. Yet reports of more serious injuries are fast emerging.

It's the second time in as many months that someone has been seriously hurt on an electric scooter in Austin. In August, a woman in her 50s sustained critical injuries that were deemed potentially life-threatening after falling off a scooter while riding along the 1100 block of South Congress Avenue. Officials said the woman hit her head after running into a curb.

Related stories:

Woman Hurt In S. Austin Crash Was On Scooter After All

Austin Woman's Plea For Scooter Etiquette Gains Traction

Electric scooters have become increasingly popular (especially among college students) since a handful of app-driven companies entered the market offering the transportation devices. Offered by such companies as Lime and Bird, scooters are secured by clients via an app enabling them to find the devices left scattered throughout the city after other customers' use. Users are charged nominal fees per minute in using the scooters.

But virtually to a person, no scooter users wear protective helmets despite the pretty brisk pace of travel on the contraptions. Speeds of 15 miles per hour and above are achievable on the electric scooters, but it's rare to see the gadgets' aficionados wearing protected head gear.

No further details were made available related to the incident. It's unclear which scooter provider owns the vehicle in involved in Saturday night's accident.

FINAL: #ATCEMSMedics have transported a ~40's Male, declared Trauma Alert, to Dell Seton Medical Center with serious, potentially life threatening injury after a reported fall from a Motorized Scooter at W 29th St/Guadalupe St (20:25) No further information available.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/ATCEMS/sta... 21, 2018

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>>> Top image: Scooters left along Guadalupe Street between 30th and 31st streets on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, a block away and just hours before a man in his 40s was injured along the same street that evening. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff