A five-year-old boy was left with a hole in his skull after an e-scooter allegedly crashed into his bicycle in Northamptonshire. Henry Jackson had been playing outside his home on his bike when he collided with an electric scooter, causing him to fall off, according to police.
His family said the little boy was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull, requiring surgery to remove bone fragments and debris from his head, leaving him with a 3-4cm hole in his skull. Northamptonshire Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested on May 10 in connection with the serious collision but has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Hospital Treatment and Recovery
Henry spent six days in hospital and was eventually able to return home. He is expected to make a full recovery. The five-year-old's brother, Jamie Argent, 19, a roofer, said: "Henry is proper bright, bubbly and just gets along with everyone, no matter who they are. He was just playing outside on his bike, and the next minute his clothes were all covered in blood, it was so scary. When I went to visit him in hospital he was all wrapped up in bandages, he looked so drained and had no energy. It was a very traumatic scene. We're over the moon to have him home after six days. He's back to his lively self again. I think there should be much stricter rules for e-scooters."
Jamie said Henry was outside riding his bike, surrounded by friends and family, when an e-scooter allegedly crashed into him on May 6. Henry was rushed to Northampton General Hospital before being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where he underwent a two-hour operation to remove bone fragments and debris from his skull. He now has a 3-4cm hole in his skull, but surgeons were unable to fit a metal plate to cover it due to Henry's age and size. Henry is expected to make a full recovery, but he will need to take great care of his head for the rest of his life, as part of his skull is missing.
Family's Call for Stricter Regulations
His family visited him as frequently as possible, and after six days he was well enough to return home on Monday, May 10. Jamie said: "He's happy and back to himself now, and asking for sweets and chocolates." The brother is now calling for far stricter regulations governing e-scooters to prevent further accidents similar to Henry's. His family are currently fundraising to buy Henry a brand-new bike, as his old one was reportedly destroyed in the collision, and to help support him throughout his recovery.
Police Investigation
Northamptonshire Police confirmed a 33-year-old man was arrested on May 10 in connection with a serious collision between an e-scooter rider and a child on a bicycle, and has since been released pending further investigation. In an earlier statement on Facebook, they said: "Detectives investigating a serious road traffic collision in Greenfield Avenue, Northampton, have made an arrest. At around 6.15pm on Tuesday, May 5, a collision occurred between the rider of an e-scooter and a child on a bicycle. The child – a five-year-old boy – sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. A 33-year-old man has today (May 10) been arrested in connection with the incident on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and is currently in police custody. Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen the incident or who may have dash-cam footage." Anyone with information is asked to email CollisionAppeals@northants.police.uk or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, or Northamptonshire Police on 101.
