An early morning hit-and-run on Monday prompts reflections from San José State students and scooter riding safety.  

The fatal accident near the SAP Center left a woman dead who rode an electric scooter through the Santa Clara Street and Cahill Street area, according to a San José Police Media Relations X post.

The woman was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to the same post.

For students, access to electric scooters provides convenience in getting around quickly.

Dustin Brown, an SJSU third-year communications student, rides often because it gives him extra time to start his day.

Brown relies heavily on scooter transportation, on campus and off campus.

“I don’t have to walk – I just get on my electric scooter,” Brown said. “I’ve been riding for so long that it’s just fun.”

The police department marks this as the 24 collision and traffic death in 2025, according to an SJPD news released Tuesday .

This growing statistic raises possible concerns for students, especially those students who rely on electric scooters to get to class.

In an analysis of the engagement of shared e-scooter users it found that people under the age of 40 are attracted to this method of transportation.

At SJSU, where many students fall under this demographic, e-scooters have become a common mode of transportation – though the growth is sparking concerns over safety.

According to a study on e-scooters and public transportation, users chose scooters because they are quick and flexible.

“If I have to get my helmet, put on my gloves, put on my safety pads – I’m then losing that (leniency),” Brown said.

The daily rider said that while he doesn’t wear protection gear, he takes safety precautions through riding maneuvers.

“I look both ways so like say this corner – I would make sure to slow down because I don’t know what’s on the other side,” Brown said.

Michaela Villanueva, a fourth-year aerospace student and non-electric scooter rider, noted how she takes a similar approach to Brown’s.

“Just being slow and trying not to hit people or like saying ‘on your left or on your right,’ ” Villanueva said.

In a study about what contributes to e-scooter accidents, it found that infrastructure is a major risk factor, according to a June 2023 Journal of Safety Research. 

It noted how switching to different surface types, pavement or smooth top, increases risk by 60 times, according to the same study.

Milan Satisha, a fourth-year electronic engineering student, experienced the dangers of traveling on different pavement.  

“I had an accident recently – there was a bump in the road that I hit and I did a backflip. From then I have just been riding slow,” Satisha said.

The incident left him with a couple scrapes; however, it didn’t convince him to wear protective gear.

“I do have a helmet but I usually don’t wear it,” Satisha said. “I keep it (the speed) very slow.”

Although a slower speed is an option to maintain well-being, Satisha mentioned how if there are too many people on campus, he switches over to walking.

However, he said that off campus he regulates his speed to 14 or 15 mph and stick to the bike lane when riding.

Satisha explained that this has prevented any more incidents while he’s riding.

“It’s safer than anything because it causes less trouble for the people who are driving the cars,” Satisha said.

Riding in the bike lane has decreased the total number of crashes in e-scooter rides compared to being on the sidewalk, according to a study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

“I know that people can go into the bike lane to make a right turn, so I am always making sure to look out for cars when I get on the road,” Brown said. 

The same study found that three in five e-scooter riders receive injuries while riding on the sidewalk.

Villanueva attested to this with a situation that she encountered in the past.

“There have definitely been ‘oh shit’ moments where they (e-scooters) just like zoom past and they’re like a millimeter away,” she said.

As a non-electric scooter rider watching e-scooters speed by, it’s easy for Villanueva to see how accidents could happen.

In a University of California, San Francisco study, it found e-scooter incidents rose from 8,566 to almost 56,847 in the time span from 2017 to 2022.

“I don’t go that fast, first of all,” Villanueva said. “(though) I definitely think on school campuses they (e-scooter riders) should keep the speed to a minimum.”

Despite the caution to slow down, Brown explains the joy and freedom that comes with riding an e-scooter.

“You’re on a scooter everything is more vibrant,” he said, “that is also fun to me.”