General News
17 June, 2025
Scooter death inquiry
POLICE are still investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy who died after crashing an e-scooter into a parked vehicle in Mareeba last week.
Police said the Cairns Forensic Crash Unit was investigating the crash which happened when the boy was travelling along Strattman Street between 10.30pm and 10.50pm last Tuesday night.
Upon arrival at the scene, emergency services commenced CPR, however, the boy did not survive.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have relevant information or vision to contact Policelink.
On Wednesday, Senior Sergeant Duane Amos said police would be looking into the scooter including its make and model and whether it may have been mechanically tampered with.
Investigators would also be looking at whether the boy had been wearing a helmet, as per Queensland road rules.
The State’s rules dictate that a person must be over 16 years of age to ride a mobility device, and those 12 year and over must have a supervising adult riding with them.
The tragedy in Mareeba occurred just weeks after the State Government announced a parliamentary inquiry into the impacts of e-scooters and e-bikes.
Between 2021 to 2024, injuries to personal e-mobility devices users, passengers, and pedestrians increased by 112%. In 2024 alone, eight
users died.
The inquiry is focusing on the benefits of e-mobility devices; safety risks; current rules and how they compare with other jurisdictions; enforcement approaches; importation laws; communication and education; and stakeholder views.
