Harlem, Manhattan — A 13-year-old boy died Thursday night after the motorized scooter he was riding collided head-on with an SUV, according to the NYPD. A second teen, 14, was injured in the crash and is expected to recover.
The collision happened on West 112th Street just before 8:50 p.m. Police say the two boys were riding together on a motorized scooter, traveling westbound on the street, when a 2024 Chevy Tahoe turned left from Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard onto West 112th Street and struck them head-on.
The 13-year-old suffered a serious head injury in the impact. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The 14-year-old boy sustained a leg injury and was taken to the hospital as well. He is listed in stable condition and is expected to survive his injuries.
The driver of the Tahoe, a 63-year-old man, stayed at the scene following the crash and was not hurt. The intersection where the collision occurred sits just two blocks north of Central Park, in a residential stretch of Harlem.
Police have not said what kind of motorized scooter the teens were riding. As of Friday, no arrests had been made, and the NYPD’s investigation into the crash remains active. Detectives are expected to look into questions of speed, right of way, and visibility at the intersection as part of their inquiry.
Community Reaction
News of the boy’s death spread quickly through the neighborhood and online, where many residents expressed grief and renewed concern about the safety of motorized scooters and similar devices being used by children on city streets.
The crash adds to a string of recent incidents in New York City involving young riders on e-bikes, mopeds, and motorized scooters, which have become increasingly popular among teenagers despite legal restrictions on their use.
Under New York City law, motorized scooters of certain classes are not permitted to be operated by riders under 16, and many models require registration and insurance similar to mopeds.
Critics have long argued that enforcement of these rules is inconsistent, even as the number of devices on the road and the number of crashes involving them has grown.
Thursday’s crash occurred in an area of Harlem that has seen heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic, particularly in the evening hours when students and families are commonly out near Central Park and surrounding residential blocks.
Neighbors who gathered near the scene after the crash described a chaotic scene, with emergency responders working to treat both boys before they were taken to the hospital.
The NYPD has not released the identities of either teen as the investigation continues, and it remains unclear whether either boy was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The case adds to ongoing citywide conversations about regulating high-speed scooters, e-bikes, and similar devices, especially as they relate to younger riders who may be unfamiliar with traffic laws or unequipped to safely navigate fast-moving city streets.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to come forward as the investigation continues.
