FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale police are searching for a driver who struck a teenager riding an electric scooter in a hit-and-run crash this weekend.
Casey Liening, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said the 14-year-old boy was riding in the 600 block of North Federal Highway around 4 a.m. Saturday when he was struck by a maroon four-door sedan. The driver, a white woman with short curly brown hair, did not stop to help the victim and drove away toward Holiday Park, police said.
It was unclear whether the boy, who was not identified, was struck in the roadway or on the sidewalk. At the time of the crash, he was with several other teens who were also riding scooters, officials said.
Police said the car may be an Acura and has visible damage to its front end and windshield.
Paramedics transported the boy to a local hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.
Paramedics said the boy was riding a Lime electric scooter. Last month, several electric scooters companies began offering services in Fort Lauderdale. Using a mobile phone app, riders can rent the scooters for a small fee and leave them at their destination.
The scooters have become popular in major cities such as Miami and San Francisco.
It's unclear how the boy accessed the scooter because the Lime service requires all riders to be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license.
"Our thoughts are with the rider involved in this tragic incident in Fort Lauderdale and wish him a speedy recovery. We have also reached out to the local authorities to assist in any way we can.” said
Taylor Bennett, a spokesman for Lime.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Traffic Homicide investigator Jill Hirsch at 954-828-5753 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.