14-Year-Old Boy Killed in Scooter Collision in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, LA—A 14-year-old boy died after being struck by a pickup truck while riding a gas-powered scooter near the Norman Mayer Library on Friday at approximately 11 a.m., according to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).
Emergency medical personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene at the intersection of Norman Mayer Avenue and Gentilly Boulevard. Authorities confirmed the driver of the pickup truck is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, and no charges are expected.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick reported that the boy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. “A helmet does everything it could to potentially save the situation,” she noted during a media briefing after the crash.
Mayor Helena Moreno and Deputy Mayor Michael Harrison met with the boy's family at the scene. Moreno stated that the family emphasized the importance of helmet safety and the risks associated with motorized vehicles.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud impact from the crash. Jordan Melancon, 21, who was working nearby, said he did not see the collision but heard it clearly. Melancon described seeing a woman cover the victim with a jacket afterward, while the driver of the red pickup truck pulled over onto a side street.
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are currently available.