Boy, 10, Injured In Scooter Crash Without Helmet A Painful Lesson To Parents

GLENDALE (CBSLA.com) — A dangerous accident involving a 10-year-old boy who crashed on his scooter without a helmet is serving as a painful reminder to parents to equip their children with safety gear.

A Glendale boy arrived to Los Angeles County's USC Medical Center in critical condition Tuesday after falling on his head while attempting to make a turn.

Glendale police arrived to the scene to find the boy lying in the street, disoriented and talking.

His condition worsened quickly and he was put into a medically induced coma overnight.

Sgt. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale Police Department told KCAL9's Serene Branson no other vehicle was involved.

"It wasn't another vehicle. Somehow... he was making some kind of turning movement and he went off the scooter. And unfortunately the first thing that landed on the asphalt was his head, and he wasn't wearing a helmet."

Lorenz said parents should use the accident as a warning and take safety precautions for active children.

"I think it's a good reminder to parents - if you're 10-year-old kids are riding their bicycles, scooters, skateboards, whatever it is - there's a reason why we require helmets," he said.

Police tape still surrounded the area on Wednesday.

Neighbors say the scene is a tragic lesson about the dangers that face young children on the road, especially in the summer months, when kids can often be seen riding their electric scooters up and down the area's steep streets without helmets.

Andy Andraos, a neighbor of the boy's family, admitted his eight-year-old son is one of them.

"I'm not gonna lie - I don't [make him wear a helmet all of the time] - but know I'm gonna thing twice... Whatever it takes to keep them safe," he said.

The Glendale boy had been upgraded to stable condition at press time.