Toulon: 12-year-old dies in electric scooter accident

A 12-year-old boy died on Wednesday in Toulon, France, after his electric scooter violently struck a pole on a sidewalk. According to Toulon prosecutor Raphaël Balland, the boy was not wearing a helmet and was reportedly attempting to overtake a bus containing several of his classmates when the accident occurred.

Surveillance footage indicates there was no contact between the scooter and the bus, and the bus driver performed no maneuvers that would have obstructed the scooter. The driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

The incident highlights a rising trend in road safety concerns. The National Interministerial Observatory for Road Safety has noted an increase in serious injuries and deaths among users of personal motorized vehicles, reporting 79 fatalities in 2025, which is 34 more than the previous year.