Family call for e-scooter ban after boy, five, hurt

The family of a boy left with a hole in his head after a collision with an e-scooter have called for the two-wheeled vehicles to be banned.

Henry, aged five, suffered a fractured skull after being struck in an alleged hit-and-run by a privately owned e-scooter being ridden on a pavement in Greenfield Avenue, Northampton, on 5 May.

Police took Henry to hospital where he needed a week of treatment, which included having bone fragments removed from his brain.

Northamptonshire Police said a 33-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident and remained on bail pending further inquiries.

Henry's brother, Jamie Argent, 19, said: "All scooters should be banned, even the hire ones.

"I've seen kids under the age of 12 ride with three of them on it at once with no helmet and [acquired] using their parents' driving licences."

Detectives have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch.

Speaking to the BBC, Henry said the e-scooter hit him at "full speed" while he was "on a little bike ride" with his sister and her friends.

"It was really painful," he said. "I had to go to hospital in Northampton and Birmingham and have missed school."

Henry will begin a phased return to school next week, but is not allowed to take part in any physical activity and said he "can't do any playing" as a result of a incident.

"They [e-scooters] are pretty bad." Henry added.

Henry's mother, Alana Prior, 44, praised the actions of two police officers who took her son to hospital in their van when an ambulance was not readily available.

However, she said she had become frustrated at the pace of the investigation into the alleged rider of the e-scooter who injured her son.

Under current legislation it is not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, meaning it is illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

Police have the power to seize them if they are being used in an anti-social manner or are causing alarm, harassment or annoyance to the public.

Despite the frightening injury to Henry, the family said it was hoped he had not suffered any long-lasting injuries and was "over the moon" to be back home.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.