Scooter hit and dragged boy of 5

11:39am Wednesday 6th August 2008

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THE MOTHER of a five-year-old boy who was knocked down and dragged along the pavement by an elderly man on a mobility scooter is calling for people who use them to be assessed before being allowed to drive them.

Becca Balazs of West Bay Road watched in horror as her son Oscar was hit by the scooter on market day in Bridport.

She said: "We had just come out of a shop and before I knew it the scooter had hit Oscar and trapped his arm so he couldn't get up.

"I thought the man would stop but he dragged him up the street. I chased after Oscar leaving Kieran, who is four, behind.

"He eventually stopped with Oscar wedged between the sign of the shop and the scooter. Oscar was just limp and in shock. I didn't know what damage had been done or if he had hit his head. He was holding his arm."

Mrs Balazs said she was offered a mobile phone but was in too much shock to be able to use it so a woman in the YMCA shop called the emergency services.

"Within minutes they were there. They were brilliant," she said.

"I didn't expect the police to get involved but they came. I was just so angry with the man. I wanted to get hold of him and get him to apologise, I was so cross with him for being so irresponsible. He didn't apologise and we have had no phone call or anything."

She said witnesses had reported that he was going too fast and added: "I was really, really concerned that he could get back on and do the same thing to another child."

"Afterwards he got on again and rode straight into another sign and that made me really angry.

"They don't let cyclists on the pavement for this exact reason and they are usually younger and more aware. Mobility scooters, which are more powerful and dangerous, are allowed.

"Maybe GPs could assess people to see if they are capable of driving, or the DVLA."

Mrs Balazs said the mobility shop in Bridport did as much as it could to assess people before selling them scooters but anyone could buy one on the internet with no checks at all, not even for eyesight.

PC Scott McGregor said because the vehicle are not mechanically propelled they were not covered by the Road Traffic Act.

He said: "Anyone involved in a similar situation causing injury or damage could take their own civil action for recompense. People who use these types of vehicles do have a responsibility.

"There is potential for third party liability hence the requirement for insurance."

PC McGregor added this was the first case he had heard of a third party being injured and he was normally involved in cases where drivers injured themselves.