Newport Scooter Crash Victims Still in Hospital

NEWPORT, RI—The two victims critically hurt after a scooter crash on Ocean Avenue on Sunday remain hospitalized, according to the Newport Police Department.

The boy, 10, is now listed in stable and alert condition at Hasbro Children's Hospital. He was first transported to Newport Hospital from the accident scene in critical condition.

The woman driving the scooter, identified as 38-year-old Heather Brigham, of West Warwick, remains in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital. Police said she was not wearing a helmet, which is not required by law; the boy was wearing a helmet.

The accident happened on a busy Sunday afternoon on Ocean Avenue near Hazard Road. Police said Brigham was driving a two-person rental "Scoot Coupe" three-wheel moped when she lost control and the scooter rolled to its side and struck the side of a Nissan Xterra traveling in the opposite lane.

The impact ejected Brigham and the boy.

The "Scoot Coupe" vehicle is a two-person moped that puts passenger and driver side-by-side.

Witnesses at the scene tried to help the victims as police and firefighters responded. One witness said that the woman was badly injured "but kept asking how the boy was," according to the report. The boy lay on the ground with a head wound and was unresponsive at first but began to regain consciousness and began to cry.

The boy's father was driving ahead of them on a different scooter with another child. He told police that he didn't witness the crash but heard the impact and looked back to see what it was and pulled over.