E-Scooter Legislation Floated After Delco Girl's Fatal Crash

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — One of Delaware County's state senators is looking to regulate e-scooters after the death of a young girl in his district.

Abigail Gillon, 12, died June 16 after she and 11-year-old Isabella Jones were hit by a vehicle as they rode an electric scooter in Aston Township on June 14.

Jones has since returned home and is recovering after being seriously hurt in the crash.

State Sen. Tim Kearney (D-26th District) said he plans to introduce legislation regarding e-scooter operation regulation.

"Abigail 'Abby' Gillon was a shining star in her community in Ridley Township, and tragically passed away, while her best friend was critically injured with a long road to recovery," Kearney said in announcing his plans.

Kearney is calling his upcoming proposed legislation "Abby's Law," and said it will define electric scooters in the vehicle code and require their users to follow the rules of the roads like bicyclists are required, mandate helmet use for minors, and prohibit children under age 16 from operating an electric scooter

He said as of now, electric scooters are undefined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and are technically not legal to ride on local or state streets and sidewalks.

"As lawmakers, it is our duty to ensure we are properly adapting our laws to accommodate popular technology SAFELY," he said.

He went on to say some communities find small fines insufficient in discouraging resident families and minors from ignoring the law, and that his upcoming legislation will authorize municipalities to pass ordinances that include stiffer penalties for underage violations.

"Through Abby’s Law, we will work to ensure that no more vulnerable adolescents will ever fall victim to an accident like this and make certain that no family will ever have to experience the same preventable hardships that members of Abby’s family did," he said.