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Lilli Ritzka: Eight-year-old girl talks about ‘very shocking and very painful’ e-scooter ordeal

Hamish Spence NCA NewsWire
Lilli had to spend two nights in hospital to reduce the risk of permanent scarring. 9News
Camera IconLilli had to spend two nights in hospital to reduce the risk of permanent scarring. 9News Credit: Supplied

An eight-year-old girl has recounted a “very shocking and very painful” e-scooter collision in Perth’s west that hospitalised her for two nights.

Year 2 student Lilli Ritzka was sent flying into the air when a man travelling at more than 40km/h hit her in the middle of a North Coogee footpath on Sunday afternoon.

Lilli suffered serious injuries to her forehead, cheek, nose and bottom lip, with her face covered in bandages.

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Camera IconLilli Ritzka and her father Volker after the serious crash. 9News Credit: Supplied

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Her injuries were so severe that she needed to spend two nights in hospital to reduce the risk of permanent scarring.

“It was scary and I was very confused about what was happening,” she told 9News.

But her father Volker Ritzka said the incident could have been much worse.

“It was a strong impact, a big, big scooter, a really heavy vehicle,” he said.

“It could have been much worse easily.”

Mr Ritzka claimed the rider stopped to apologise but then left the scene despite his pleas to stay behind.

“You stay with us, you stay with us. Dude, we get the police involved,” he yelled as the man sped off.

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Camera IconThe e-scooter rider speeds away from the scene despite Mr Ritzka's telling him to stop. 9News Credit: Supplied

A man in his 20s was later arrested by police but was released without charge,

Mr Ritzka hoped e-scooters would soon “be a thing of the past”, with St John Ambulance WA responding to around 15 crashes each month.

Most of them are deemed priority one incidents, meaning the injuries are life-threatening.

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Camera IconLilli had to spend two nights in hospital to reduce the risk of permanent scarring. 9News Credit: Supplied

“Many of the e-scooter accidents we attend are people not complying with speed and safety rules,” St John executive director ambulance operations Deon Brink said last month.

“Wear a helmet, abide by speed limits, ride responsibly and preferably not late at night or in the early hours of the morning.”

E-scooter crashes have already killed two people in Western Australia this year, 13-year-old boy Calym Gilbert and father of three Kim Rowe.

Originally published as Eight-year-old girl’s ‘very shocking and very painful’ e-scooter ordeal

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