Lime e-scooter rider critical

A 26-year-old woman is in a critical condition after a collision between a Lime electric scooter and truck in Dunedin at about 1.45am on January 18.

Emergency services attended the incident at the corner of Dundas and Cumberland streets, on the south bound one-way system.

The woman was taken to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries, and she remains in a serious condition, St John spokesman Gerard Campbell says, Stuff reports.

The crash happened by a one-way system, which has protected cycle lanes for use by e-scooters, but Stuff

says it is understands the woman was crossing the intersection at Dundas St when the crash happened.

Police confirm the woman is a 26-year-old foreign national, senior sergeant Craig Dinnissen says.

It is unclear if she is a tourist or a student. Police are in the process of contacting her family overseas.

Police have an indication of how the crash happened, which is being investigated by the serious crash unit, but “there is nothing we can comment on at the moment”, Dinnissen says.

Police are reviewing footage of the incident, including a NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) camera, and any other CCTV cameras – including those operated from the University of Otago.

It’s uncertain at this stage whether the woman was wearing a helmet, but Dinnissen urges e-scooter, cycle and skateboard users to always wear one.

“We see it all the time, people racing past on the roads and footpaths without helmets on, that is on scooters, skateboards and cycles, it is a common thing but it is very difficult to police,” he says.

“It is commonsense for people to protect themselves … put a lid on it.”

State Highway 1 was closed for a period but reopened about 7.20am, the NZTA says.