YouTube star Emily – the tragic victim of UK’s first fatal electric scooter crash
TELEVISION and YouTube star Emily Hartridge was named last night as the first person in Britain to be killed while riding an electric scooter.
The 35-year-old was involved in a collision with a lorry when she was just half a mile from her home in Battersea, South London. Her death triggered fresh debate about the growing illegal use of electric scooters on roads.
Ms Hartridge’s death was announced on Instagram by her family, who said: ‘Emily was involved in an accident yesterday and passed away. We all loved her to bits and she will never be forgotten. She has touched so many lives it’s hard to imagine things without her. She was a very special person.’
The presenter was the creator of hit YouTube show 10 Reasons Why, which attracted more than three million viewers every month. She also fronted Channel 4’s S***, I’m 30 and a host of online programmes. She also raised awareness about mental health, having built up a huge social media following, with more than 340,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel.
Television presenter Davina McCall led the tributes, saying: ‘My heart goes out to Emily’s family and friends. Such a shock. Sending you love and prayers.’ Celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine said: ‘Finding this very, very hard to compute. Devastating.’
In Ms Hartridge’s final YouTube post just four days before her death, she uploaded a video about her relationship with boyfriend Jake Hazell, 27, and revealed he had given her an electric scooter as a birthday present.
Transport for London boss Mike Brown recently called for a safety review of electric scooters, which are illegal to use on public roads and pavements. He said: ‘I was on the Millennium Bridge the other night and there was some guy on an electric scooter rocketing down the middle. I did think to myself, “This is actually not that safe.” I think we have to get some guidance between us and the Department for Transport [DfT].’
Nicola Nardelli, a former councillor in Battersea, said: ‘The traffic has increased enormously around here and there are a lot of vans and lorries. The thing is, when the lorry is large, you might not see an electric scooter.’
E-scooters, which cost from £200 upwards, can travel at more than 30mph and are becoming increasingly popular for short journeys. The DfT is examining the law on e-scooters. Former Minister Jesse Norman wrote to retailers last year voicing his concern ‘that the public lacks awareness of relevant UK law’. Jonathan Flower, a transport expert, said: ‘This is tragic, but reminds us that e-scooters already exist on British roads. The DfT must create legislation and promote safe infrastructure. Ignoring them will lead to more tragedy.’
A DfT spokesman said: ‘It is important retailers remind people it is illegal to ride e-scooters on public roads.’