Woman on e-scooter knocked down in Portlaoise
The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court
A DRIVER who crashed into a woman on an e-scooter at a pedestrian crossing in Portlaoise was convicted of careless driving when he appeared in court last Thursday.
Portlaoise District Court heard that the woman was brought to Portlaoise hospital, after she was knocked down by a car at the crossing in Church Avenue.
Defendant IIjomon Ouseph Ponnembel of 1 Rockview Close, Portlaoise, pleaded guilty to careless driving as a result of the collision on 26 October 2023.
Sgt JJ Kirby said that Mr Ponnembel was driving from the direction of James Fintan Lalor Avenue towards the Dublin Road when he struck the e-scooter, which was travelling on the pedestrian crossing.
The woman was brought to Portlaoise hospital with minor injuries, which included a sore leg and jaw, but she subsequently made a full recovery.
Judge Andrew Cody commented: “An e-scooter is a mechanically propelled vehicle and a crossing is for pedestrians, that is for people who walk with two feet. I have had my own issues with e-scooters.”
Sgt Kirby confirmed that, according to her written statement, the woman said that she was riding the e-scooter on the crossing when she was struck by the car. She was knocked from the scooter to the ground as a result of the collision.
She said in the statement: ‘The car hit me and I was knocked off my scooter.’
Judge Cody convicted and fined Mr Ponnembel €250 for careless driving but did not disqualify him from driving.
