Teen killed in e-scooter crash leads to road safety reminder in Brampton

Brampton | Caledon | Latest News |

By

Published July 5, 2023 at 12:44 pm

13-year-old Mahkai died after being stuck by a car while he was riding an electric scooter in Brampton on June 14, 2023.

The city is reminding residents to keep safety in mind while riding e-scooters around Brampton following the death of a teenage boy struck by a car while out for a ride last month.

Thirteen-year-old Mahkai died in hospital after he was hit by the driver of a black Nissan Altima on June 14. The boy was riding an electric scooter at the intersection of Orangegrove and Sugarhill Drives in Brampton, according to police and a friend of the family.

Speculation began circulating online that the boy had been riding a scooter under the city’s new e-scooter pilot project, but the city has confirmed that the scooter was operated by one of the city’s approved operators. Mahkai had reportedly just received the scooter as a birthday present weeks before the fatal crash.

The incident has the city urging residents to review e-scooter safety before heading out on the roads.

There are three operators under the pilot program and all require riders to review operating and safety instructions with rules and clearly displayed when a user starts a ride.

Here are some e-scooter safety tips from the City of Brampton:

  • Helmets must be worn by riders under the age of 18 and are strongly encouraged for riders of all ages
  • All users must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter in Ontario
  • E-scooters are permitted to be used on roads with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or less, bicycle lanes, and multi-use paths. E-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks.
  • E-Scooters are limited to a maximum speed of 20 km/h and geofenced to reduce speed to 15 km/h or less when operating in parks, high-pedestrian areas, and paths.

Mahkai’s death has left his single mother dealing with “the worst any parent can go through” according to a family friend but members of the community are lending support to the family.

A GoFundMe page was started to cover Mahkai’s medical costs from the crash, but will now be used for funeral expenses. The fundraiser had nearly $25,500 in donations as of Wednesday afternoon.

There will be a public viewing for Mahkai on Friday (July 7) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the New Haven Funeral Centre in Mississauga with a private funeral at a later date.

INsauga's Editorial Standards and Policies