Mum’s fury as toddler is hurt by mobility scooter in Waterlooville

The toddler was dragged 10ft along the pavement in Waterlooville precinct as the woman did not even realise she had hit him.

It was only after Ms Weeks and her mum Angela Kruppa stopped the woman and lifted the scooter up that Bobby was able to escape.

Luckily, the boy only suffered cuts, grazes and bruises, despite the force being so strong it ripped his nappy and T-shirt off, but Ms Weeks is calling for tougher action on the vehicles.

The 30-year-old said: ‘If they are big enough and fast enough to be on the road then they should not be on the pavement.

‘There needs to be something put in place before a child is seriously hurt or killed.’

The mum-of-two had been sitting outside Cooks the Bakery in the pedestrian area of the town when the incident happened last Wednesday at 2pm.

She said: ‘If he had not had a T-shirt on then he would’ve lost his skin. His nappy was shredded. There was blood everywhere. It was horrifying.’

She said she would like to see tougher regulations when it comes to people buying these vehicles.

Ms Weeks, of Southwood Road, Hayling Island, said: ‘I’m haunted by the vision of the scooter going over his neck and his body being pushed along the pavement. I don’t want this to happen to another child because a younger baby would not have stood a chance.’

Ms Weeks said she was even more horrified as the woman drove off after seeing Bobby bloodied on the floor.

It was only when nan Mrs Kruppa, 54, ran after her that she gave her details.

The pair have since reported the incident to the police and Bobby is recovering at home with dad Chris Bradley, 26, and sister Poppy, eight.

But Lynne Rigby, principal officer from Portsmouth Disability Forum, which runs the Shopmobility scheme where people can hire mobility scooters, said that these vehicles can be a lifeline for people with mobility issues.

Although she added that before people are allowed to rent from the scheme, their health and eyesight is checked and all their scooters have insurance.

Mrs Rigby said: ‘They are a lifeline but they need to be used respectfully.’

She said the forum backed calls for tighter regulations on scooters being sold privately, as no tests are required before one is sold. And she encouraged anybody thinking of buying one privately to try one out at scheme like Shopmobility so they can make sure they are competent enough to drive one safely.

This incident follows a one-year-old girl being struck and hurt by a mobility scooter in Commercial Road, Portsmouth in May.

The girl suffered cuts and bruises to her head and police are investigating after the mobility scooter driver, thought to be in his 80s and white, drove off.