Marina
A series of tragic crashes involving children on scooters and bikes has shocked communities across Kansas City, Westwood, and nearby suburbs.
Within just two days, two serious accidents—one fatal—have raised questions about safety, helmet laws, and parental awareness.
On Tuesday morning, 9-year-old Hazen Duffy, a student at Ingels Elementary School, was struck and killed by a van while biking across Longview Road and Food Lane Drive.
According to police, she was in the crosswalk with a green light when a turning vehicle hit her.
The day before, on Monday evening, a fourth grader in Leawood riding an electric scooter was hit by a truck near Lee Boulevard and West 103rd Street. The child suffered a head injury and broken bones but is expected to recover.
These back-to-back crashes have renewed calls for stronger child safety measures, including mandatory helmet laws, school-based safety programs, and better infrastructure to protect young riders.
Rising Injuries Among Children
Officials at Children’s Mercy Hospital have reported a sharp rise in bike and scooter injuries among children over the past year. Between June 2024 and July 2025, the hospital treated 467 children for bike or scooter-related injuries.
The most common injuries included:
- Broken bones
- Abdominal trauma
- Head and brain injuries
The median age of the injured children was just 10 years old. Many of these incidents involved both motorized scooters and traditional bicycles, showing that safety risks exist across all types of rides.
Experts warn that the popularity of e-scooters and e-bikes has outpaced safety education, particularly for kids under 14 who may not fully understand road rules or the dangers of speed and distraction.
Community Voices Demand Change
Local residents are calling for stronger safety enforcement. One Westwood resident described two recent close calls involving children on scooters—one girl even collided with his truck while distracted by her phone.
“I was lucky,” he said. “It could have ended just like what happened earlier this week. It was that close.”
Community members and city council candidates have urged:
- Helmet requirements for children under 18
- Safety classes in schools led by local law enforcement
- Public awareness campaigns for parents and young riders
Westwood Police Chief Curtis Mansell said patrol officers often see kids riding scooters safely on sidewalks, but more education is still needed to prevent future tragedies.
Laws and Safety Recommendations
Under Kansas’ Standard Traffic Ordinances (STO), e-scooters are treated like bicycles, meaning riders must follow all traffic laws. However, confusion remains around motorized bikes and e-bikes that resemble motorcycles.
Chief Mansell reminded parents that:
- Scooters without pedals that run solely on electric motors are classified as motorcycles and require a driver’s license and helmet.
- Riders should walk scooters and bikes across crosswalks instead of riding.
- Bright clothing, reflectors, and lights help increase visibility at dawn or dusk.
- Distractions such as phones and earbuds can greatly increase crash risk.
Key Statistics and Recommendations
| Category | Details (2024–2025) |
|---|---|
| Crashes involving children this week | 2 (1 fatal bike crash, 1 serious scooter crash) |
| Children’s Mercy Hospital cases | 467 treated for bike/scooter injuries |
| Median age of injured children | 10 years old |
| Most common injuries | Head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries |
| Recommended safety measures | Helmet use, road awareness, safe crosswalk behavior, no phone use while riding |
What Parents Can Do
- Ensure helmets fit properly and are certified for impact protection.
- Teach children to obey traffic lights and walk their bike or scooter through intersections.
- Supervise rides for younger children, especially on busy neighborhood roads.
- Inspect devices regularly, checking brakes, tires, and lights.
- Encourage kids to ride with friends but always stay alert and avoid distractions.
The recent crashes in Kansas City are painful reminders that safety must come first for children using bikes or scooters.
As electric mobility grows more popular, cities, schools, and parents must work together to improve education, enforcement, and infrastructure.
Reinforcing helmet rules, school safety courses, and clear riding laws can save lives.
Every parent should treat scooter and bike safety not as a suggestion but as a necessity—because a few simple precautions can prevent another tragedy from happening again.