Teenage boy seriously injured after e-scooter crash in Cork city

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the incident, which happened on Fairfield Avenue, Farranree, at around 9.40pm. Picture Dan Linehan

A teenage boy is in serious condition in hospital after falling from his e-scooter in Cork city on Thursday night.

The 13 year-old boy suffered head injuries after losing control of the scooter and crashing.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene on Fairfield Avenue, Farranree, on the north side of Cork city at around 9.40pm.

The boy fell after losing control of the e-scooter and did not collide with another vehicle. He was taken to Cork University Hospital for urgent treatment and it is understood he has since been transferred to a hospital in Dublin.

Gardaí closed the road to carry out a technical examination.

The number of e-scooters in Cork has increased significantly since Christmas, a garda source said.

Some people travel at extremely high speeds, often without wearing helmets.

The e-scooters sometimes have no lights and are often ridden by people wearing dark clothing, making them difficult to see, especially at night, a garda source said.

E-scooters have become such “hot property” that they are also being stolen, with a number of thefts reported in Cork since Christmas, they said.

E-scooters, which cost about €3,000 on average, should always be secured with a high-quality lock when not in use, they advised.

However, many are left outside businesses or colleges without adequate security, leaving them vulnerable to theft, they warned.