A man on a Lime electric scooter was hit and killed leaving an Atlanta MARTA station early Friday morning.
It appears to be the first fatal accident involving a “dockless electric scooter” investigated by Atlanta police, department spokesman Officer Jarius Daugherty said.
The man was coming out of the parking lot of the West Lake station just after midnight when he was hit by a red Cadillac SUV traveling south on West Lake Avenue, according to police.
“The driver of the SUV advised that she attempted to avoid the male on the scooter but was unable to do so in time,” Daugherty said in a statement. “The driver of the SUV did remain on scene and was cooperative with investigators.”
The victim was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as 20-year-old Eric Amis Jr. of Atlanta. The driver’s name has not been released.
Police shut down West Lake Avenue in both directions overnight while they conducted traffic reconstruction, Channel 2 Action News reported. The deadly incident remains under investigation, and Daugherty said charges have not been determined.
Electric scooters, narrow, two-wheeled devices, can be rented through smartphone apps that charge by the mile. Considered an alternative transportation mode for short trips, the devices have been growing in popularity in urban areas. At least four rental companies operate in Atlanta, including California-based Lime.
"We're devastated to learn of this tragic incident in Atlanta and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time,” the company told AJC.com in a statement. “We have been in touch with local authorities to offer support and stand ready to assist however we can."
In recent months, Atlanta city officials have tried to get a handle on scooter-related injuries since the devices became a prominent fixture on sidewalks last spring.
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While no data exists for Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, the largest hospital in Georgia, estimated it receives between 80 and 100 scooter-related injuries per month, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in March. The injuries range from serious head injuries to broken limbs.
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Prior to the accident Friday morning, local authorities had not reported any deaths related to electric scooters. However, a Woodstock man was killed in an electric scooter accident in March while on business in San Diego.
MORE: Woodstock man killed in e-scooter accident in San Diego
Christopher Conti’s death was the first known fatality in San Diego involving a scooter, police in that city said.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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