E-scooter kills 77-year-old pedestrian [VIDEO]

A rider of an e-scooter was sentenced to 16 months in prison today for striking a 77-year-old woman as she crossed the street, sending her flying and leaving her with “physical and mental wounds.”

When Paul Satchell, 58, collided with Myra Wood in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, he was evading police who had previously questioned his use of an electric vehicle.

Ms. Wood had severe injuries, including an eye socket fracture. The crash landed her in the hospital for two days and rendered her unable of eating for six weeks.

Today at Lewes Crown Court, Satchell was sentenced to 16 months in prison and banned from driving for nearly four years after pleading guilty to causing injury by dangerous driving in the December 2020 crash.

CCTV footage captures the moment the e-scooter monster kills Ms. Wood, who is now 79 years old.

When Paul Satchell (pictured), 58, crashed into Myra Wood in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, he was fleeing from police who had previously questioned his use of the electric vehicle.

CCTV footage captures the moment the e-scooter monster kills Ms. Wood, who is now 79 years old.

The footage depicts Satchell traveling at great speed on his scooter as his victim, who is wearing a brown coat, walks by a car at a crossroads.

Satchell was attempting to evade police officials who had previously warned him about his improper use of the e-scooter.

The Sussex Police video shows him staring in the wrong direction as Ms. Wood crosses the street.

He collides with her with great force, sending her flying for a few seconds before she hits the ground and Satchell is thrown off his scooter.

Satchell, who was sentenced to 16 months in prison today at Lewes Crown Court, also lost control of his scooter.

Ms. Wood stated, “I can claim that this collision left me with physical and mental wounds that have profoundly impacted my life quality.” I recognize that I am a mere shadow of my previous self.

The Collisions Unit investigator stated that the video “demonstrates the damage that may be caused by e-scooters,” and Ms. Wood hopes that the video will serve as a warning to others regarding the hazards posed by the powered vehicles.

She stated that she was highly active prior to the accident, taking regular walks to the store or church.

Since then, she has suffered from acute anxiety and is now scared to cross the street.

The collision launched Ms. Wood into the air before she landed on the ground. She stated that she has been a “ghost of her old self” since then.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman stated that Satchell struck the pedestrian while attempting to elude authorities who had stopped him.

They stated, “Police officers Jason Kemp and Daniel Turk stopped Paul Satchell on Watermill Lane, Bexhill, for operating a motorized vehicle.”

Officers in a patrol vehicle stopped to warn the 58-year-old to stop riding, but Satchell disregarded them, turned away from the cops, and continued riding away.

The e-scooter was seized by the Sussex Police because it is illegal to ride one on public roads if it is not hired.

He paid no heed to what was in front of him. Myra Wood, now 79 years old, was crossing the street when she was struck by Satchell, who was riding at a high rate of speed while glancing back at the police officers behind him.

She was pushed over in the incident and sustained significant injuries, including a cracked eye socket. Satchell was also ejected from his vehicle but suffered no injuries.

“Immediately, PC Kemp and PC Turk administered first assistance to Mrs. Wood and apprehended Satchell,” They confiscated his e-scooter and acquired witness information and surveillance footage that revealed how the tragic incident transpired.

What laws govern e-scooters?

Currently, the only way to legally ride an e-scooter on public roadways or in other public places is to rent one.

After a trial period, however, the controversial cars could be licensed for use throughout the United Kingdom. Currently, ten London boroughs and three service providers are testing the viability of e-scooters on the roads of the metropolis.

To rent an e-scooter, drivers must be at least 18 years old and in possession of a valid or provisional driver’s license.

Using privately owned e-scooters or other motorized carriers on public highways is likewise prohibited.

Relevant legislation regarding e-scooter use include:

On public highways, anyone operating a privately owned e-scooter or other powered transporter is certainly committing at least one of a variety of violations, such as operating a motor vehicle without insurance. You may be subject to a £300 fine and six points on your driver’s license.

On sidewalks, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle, including e-scooters and powered transports at all times.

On private property, E-scooters and powered carriers may be operated with authorization from the landowner or occupant.

E-scooters rented under the TfL program will be authorized on public roads and cycle infrastructure in participating boroughs in London.

These municipalities will designate no-go zones where e-scooters cannot be ridden and will come to a safe halt, as well as go-slow zones where e-scooter speeds will be lowered to 8 miles per hour.

Source: Transport for London

E-scooters are now classified as motorized vehicles, although they cannot be legally registered or insured.

Therefore, riding an e-scooter in a public location is forbidden, and riders risk having the device confiscated and being punished for traffic violations.

“Satchell, of no fixed address, was charged with causing severe injury by hazardous driving and sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Lewes Crown Court.”

In addition, he was barred from driving for an additional three years and eight months.

The court was informed that the event occurred at 11:50 a.m. on December 1, 2020.

‘Myra Wood, who was 77 years old at the time, consented to the sharing of footage to alert other e-scooter users about the dangers the vehicles pose to others and to remind them that it is unlawful to operate the things on a public road or path.

She stated that she once led an active lifestyle that included frequent walks, shopping trips, and church attendance in Bexhill and Sidley. However, because to her injuries, she spent two days in the hospital and was unable to eat solid food for six weeks.

She reported feeling scared to cross the street due to her heightened anxiousness.

In April 2020, Satchell was detained for ‘taunting’ the police officers who fined him for ‘overexercising’ during lockdown by paragliding.

After finishing a glide, he spotted police officers and proceeded toward them while giving them a thumbs-up.

Officers pursued Satchell, also known as the ‘Bexhill Birdman,’ as he fled before he was taken down.

After the collision involving an e-scooter in December of the same year, Collision Unit investigator Chris McGuckin stated, ‘This was a particularly uncommon case because an e-scooter was involved.’

“We could only charge Satchell if it was determined that the e-scooter qualified as a “vehicle” under the Road Traffic Act.

“The swift actions of PC Turk and PC Kemp to confiscate the e-scooter, followed by the examination and photographs made by PC Dave Upjohn from our Roads Policing Unit, proved to the satisfaction of the CPS that this was a “mechanically propelled vehicle.”

“Satchell first pled “not guilty” to the charge, and the case was transferred to the Crown Court for trial. Nonetheless, he missed court on multiple times. There were issued arrest warrants for him. When he was arrested and appeared in court, the evidence was so compelling that he was compelled to enter a guilty plea.

“We are glad that Mrs. Wood has received justice with her 16-month prison term. The case demonstrates that all road users have a responsibility to pay attention and be mindful of others to avoid causing serious harm.

It also illustrates the danger that can be caused by e-scooters, which are still illegal to operate outside of a trial area.