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A 9-year-old boy was killed Wednesday night after his electric scooter collided with a minivan in Herndon’s Highland Mews neighborhood, prompting Fairfax County police to urge renewed safety precautions for young riders.
The crash occurred when a 2012 Honda Odyssey had just turned left from Highland Mews Court into a parking area in the 3000 block of Madden Court. The child struck the rear passenger side of the vehicle, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The boy was transported to the hospital in life-threatening condition, where he later died from his injuries.
Driver Cleared of Reckless Behavior
Capt. Harold Morris, the department’s assistant traffic division commander, said investigators found no indication the driver operated the van unsafely.
“At this point, we have found that the adult female driver was operating that vehicle in a safe manner,” Morris said at a Thursday press conference. Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors in the crash.
The driver remained at the scene. Police are still investigating what class of scooter the child was riding, but initial findings suggest he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
Support Deployed for Both Families
Representatives from the FCPD’s victim services division, health and wellness division, and chaplains responded to both the scene and the hospital to support the child’s family as well as the minivan driver’s family.
Police Stress Visibility and Helmet Use
Morris used the tragedy to emphasize safety measures for anyone using electric vehicles, bicycles, or traveling as a pedestrian.
“Whether that’s wearing a helmet, it could be a reflective band you’re wearing on your arm, high-visibility clothing, to proceed in crosswalks, and just be seen,” he said. “You don’t want to make yourself a victim—and you want to make sure that you protect yourself, your family, and your community.”
Fairfax County recently updated its code to require anyone under 15 to wear a protective helmet while riding an electrically powered scooter, e-bike, or motorized skateboard on local roads.
The investigation remains ongoing.