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11 serious incidents involving Voi e-scooter trials in Northampton over the last three years – including deaths, life-changing injuries and more

Take a look back at some of the major incidents involving Voi e-scooters since they were first brought to Northampton in September 2020

Take a look back at some of the major incidents involving Voi e-scooters since they were first brought to Northampton in September 2020 Take a look back at some of the major incidents involving Voi -escooters in Northampton since they were brought in three years ago. Voi e-scooters have become a divisive topic in the town over the last three years, with some in favour of the green-friendly scheme and others absolutely detesting the extra traffic on the roads.

Following calls to suspend the controversial three-year Voi e-scooter trials, this newspaper has highlighted some of the major incidents that have fuelled these calls.

Philip Jones (pictured) was driving his personal mobility scooter to Queensview Medical Centre, in Kingsthorpe, to get his flu jab vaccination on October 17, 2020 when he was confronted by an abandoned Voi scooter on the pavement. Aninquest heard how Mr Jones got out of his mobility scooter to move the Voi scooter but fell and landed in the road in cold weather conditions. Mr Jones died 12 days later on October 29./ppThe cause of death given by Dr A Bisset of NGH was multiple organ failure and a fractured neck. Mr Jones' brother said at the time:

Philip Jones (pictured) was driving his personal mobility scooter to Queensview Medical Centre, in Kingsthorpe, to get his flu jab vaccination on October 17, 2020 when he was confronted by an abandoned Voi scooter on the pavement. Aninquest heard how Mr Jones got out of his mobility scooter to move the Voi scooter but fell and landed in the road in cold weather conditions./ppMr Jones died 12 days later on October 29. The cause of death given by Dr A Bisset of NGH was multiple organ failure and a fractured neck. Mr Jones' brother said at the time:

Philip Jones (pictured) was driving his personal mobility scooter to Queensview Medical Centre, in Kingsthorpe, to get his flu jab vaccination on October 17, 2020 when he was confronted by an abandoned Voi scooter on the pavement. Aninquest heard how Mr Jones got out of his mobility scooter to move the Voi scooter but fell and landed in the road in cold weather conditions. Mr Jones died 12 days later on October 29.

The cause of death given by Dr A Bisset of NGH was multiple organ failure and a fractured neck. Mr Jones’ brother said at the time: “I truly believe this discarded scooter was a direct factor in my brother’s death.” A Voi spokeswoman said: “We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate situation.” Incidents include deaths, transportation used prior to a murder, life-changing injuries, road traffic collisions and more.

Opposition councillor Emma Roberts (Rushmere and Delapre) recently said: “I genuinely believe that now is the time that we must do something about the scooter trials in Northampton. We’ve seen significant injury, significant waste, and significant damage.” West Northants Council recently passed a motion for the e-scooter issue to be re-examined by a scrutiny board.

They are to come back with recommendations in early 2024, before the Voi contract ends in May. The trial was first launched in September 2020, with Voi recently announcing that their e-scooters have been used for about three million trips across the town in that time frame.

An inquest heard how Antonia-Marie Nanyonjo, from Milton Keynes, was riding a Voi e-scooter on Marrfair towards Northampton Railway Station before she ran a red light at the pedestrian crossing at the St Andrew's Road crossroads at 6.15pm on December 6, 2021. Antonia was hit by an Audi A3 and broke her leg./ppShe tragically died four days later on December 10 due to a blood clot in the lungs. Senior Coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said:

An inquest heard how Antonia-Marie Nanyonjo, from Milton Keynes, was riding a Voi e-scooter on Marrfair towards Northampton Railway Station before she ran a red light at the pedestrian crossing at the St Andrew's Road crossroads at 6.15pm on December 6, 2021./ppAntonia was hit by an Audi A3 and broke her leg. She tragically died four days later on December 10 due to a blood clot in the lungs. Senior Coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said: An inquest heard how Antonia-Marie Nanyonjo, from Milton Keynes, was riding a Voi e-scooter on Marrfair towards Northampton Railway Station before she ran a red light at the pedestrian crossing at the St Andrew’s Road crossroads at 6.15pm on December 6, 2021. Antonia was hit by an Audi A3 and broke her leg.

She tragically died four days later on December 10 due to a blood clot in the lungs. Senior Coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said: “She rode in contravention of a red light. She suffered a fractured right femur, and during surgery, she developed a pulmonary embolism and also contracted Covid 19.”

In December 2022, Voi’s trial across the county was extended by the company and Northamptonshire’s councils until May 2024. Click through our gallery to look back at some of the major incidents involving Voi e-scooters in Northampton.

16-year-old Rohan Shand, known as Fred, died after being stabbed near the Cock Hotel in Harborough Road at about 3.35pm on March 22 while on his way home from Kingsthorpe College. During the murder trial at Northampton Crown Court, it was revealed that a Voi e-scooter was used in the moments before the murder by two teenagers: a 15 year old boy, who was found guilty of murder, was on the back of the scooter being driven by a 17 year old, who was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter./ppIt was revealed that the 15 year old had used his mum's driving license details to access the scooter.

16-year-old Rohan Shand, known as Fred, died after being stabbed near the Cock Hotel in Harborough Road at about 3.35pm on March 22 while on his way home from Kingsthorpe College. During the murder trial at Northampton Crown Court, it was revealed that a Voi e-scooter was used in the moments before the murder by two teenagers: a 15 year old boy, who was found guilty of murder, was on the back of the scooter being driven by a 17 year old, who was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter. It was revealed that the 15 year old had used his mum's driving license details to access the scooter.

16-year-old Rohan Shand, known as Fred, died after being stabbed near the Cock Hotel in Harborough Road at about 3.35pm on March 22 while on his way home from Kingsthorpe College. During the murder trial at Northampton Crown Court, it was revealed that a Voi e-scooter was used in the moments before the murder by two teenagers: a 15 year old boy, who was found guilty of murder, was on the back of the scooter being driven by a 17 year old, who was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter. It was revealed that the 15 year old had used his mum’s driving license details to access the scooter.

Kirri Anne Hossain-Reed was riding a Voi e-scooter on Towcester Road, Far Cotton on June 10, 2022 at around 4.30pm when her life changed forever./ppKirri, aged 25 at the time, was hit by a gold Vauxhall Mokka trying to overtake a van on the inside lane on the 40mph road. She was hit at speed and is now paralysed for the rest of her life. Her sister, Kiah, said:

Kirri Anne Hossain-Reed was riding a Voi e-scooter on Towcester Road, Far Cotton on June 10, 2022 at around 4.30pm when her life changed forever./ppKirri, aged 25 at the time, was hit by a gold Vauxhall Mokka trying to overtake a van on the inside lane on the 40mph road. She was hit at speed and is now paralysed for the rest of her life. Her sister, Kiah, said:

Kirri Anne Hossain-Reed was riding a Voi e-scooter on Towcester Road, Far Cotton on June 10, 2022 at around 4.30pm when her life changed forever. Kirri, aged 25 at the time, was hit by a gold Vauxhall Mokka trying to overtake a van on the inside lane on the 40mph road. She was hit at speed and is now paralysed for the rest of her life.

Her sister, Kiah, said: “She is paralysed, she cannot communicate, she shows no signs of recognition when shown photographs of family members and she requires oral morphine for her pain every day.” Kirri now resides at a rehabilitation centre in Leamington Spa. The Vauxhall Mokka Driver, Mark Unwin, aged 62, pleaded guilty to causing a serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from driving for six years.

An e-scooter rider in his 20s suffered

An e-scooter rider in his 20s suffered An e-scooter rider in his 20s suffered “potentially life-changing injuries” after colliding with a car in Northampton town centre on September 22, 2021.

Police revealed the rider of a rented Voi scooter was taken to University Hospital Coventry following the incident in Bailiff Street at around 7.45pm. Police have been asked for an update regarding the investigation. (Photo: Logan MacLeod)

Stuart Johnson, aged 50, was riding a Voi electric scooter in Weedon Road on Friday, January 13 at 5.45pm when he was hit by a delivery driver turning left at the Spencer Bridge Road junction. He said: Stuart Johnson, aged 50, was riding a Voi electric scooter in Weedon Road on Friday, January 13 at 5.45pm when he was hit by a delivery driver turning left at the Spencer Bridge Road junction. He said: “The driver overtook me and turned left straight across me.” Stuart spent nearly three weeks in Northampton General Hospital and University Coventry Hospital where he had two operations to fix his broken leg before he was discharged on January 31.

Looking back on the incident, Stuart said: “I was using the scooter in the right and proper manner when the accident happened. It could happen to anyone. I wasn’t superstitious but I am now.

I’m lucky to be alive. I could have quite easily rolled underneath this car or the car behind him. It was close.

To get away with a broken leg is lucky.” Stuart called on Voi and the council to introduce more safety features as part of the scheme.

A man in his 30s riding a Voi scooter in Northampton town centre was in collision with a black Toyota Avensis on September 22, 2022. The scooter rider was hospitalised with serious injuries after colliding with the car at 12.20pm in Black Lion Hill, at the junction with St Andrews Road and Marefair. No arrests were made. (Photo: Logan MacLeod)

A man in his 30s riding a Voi scooter in Northampton town centre was in collision with a black Toyota Avensis on September 22, 2022./ppThe scooter rider was hospitalised with serious injuries after colliding with the car at 12.20pm in Black Lion Hill, at the junction with St Andrews Road and Marefair. No arrests were made. (Photo: Logan MacLeod) A man in his 30s riding a Voi scooter in Northampton town centre was in collision with a black Toyota Avensis on September 22, 2022.

The scooter rider was hospitalised with serious injuries after colliding with the car at 12.20pm in Black Lion Hill, at the junction with St Andrews Road and Marefair. No arrests were made. (Photo: Logan MacLeod)

Ashley Potter, from Little Billing, was on the way back from picking his son up from school on in September 2022 at around when his Voi scooter's handlebars

Ashley Potter, from Little Billing, was on the way back from picking his son up from school on in September 2022 at around when his Voi scooter's handlebars Ashley Potter, from Little Billing, was on the way back from picking his son up from school on in September 2022 at around when his Voi scooter’s handlebars “snapped” while crossing a road in Weston Favell. The 30-year-old dad said “As I got into the middle of the road the handle bar snapped.

I fell to the floor, smashed my face off the kerb and smashed my teeth. I’m never going to use them again. Never.

I think they should take them out of use completely or until Voi finds a stronger way of constructing it.” A Voi spokesman confirmed the incident and said it is currently in the process of investigating it. The spokesman said: “Safety is our number one priority, and we take all incidents involving our riders seriously.” (Photo: –)

In January 2023, Voi was fined after it admitted failing to give information requested by police. The company, which has its UK office in Wardour Street, London, had failed to give police information about an incident in Northamptonshire on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

In January 2023, Voi was fined after it admitted failing to give information requested by police./ppThe company, which has its UK office in Wardour Street, London, had failed to give police information about an incident in Northamptonshire on Thursday, October 27, 2022. In January 2023, Voi was fined after it admitted failing to give information requested by police. The company, which has its UK office in Wardour Street, London, had failed to give police information about an incident in Northamptonshire on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Northants Police, 187 Voi e-scooter riders have been issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) for breaking the rules./ppThe following figures are what the PCNs have been issued for: Drink driving 17No driving licence 30Drug driving 4Using a mobile phone 5Not in proper control 15Other (minor road traffic offences) 100Jumping a red light 16

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Northants Police, 187 Voi e-scooter riders have been issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) for breaking the rules. The following figures are what the PCNs have been issued for: Drink driving 17No driving licence 30Drug driving 4Using a mobile phone 5Not in proper control 15Other (minor road traffic offences) 100Jumping a red light 16 According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Northants Police, 187 Voi e-scooter riders have been issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) for breaking the rules.

The following figures are what the PCNs have been issued for: Drink driving 17No driving licence 30Drug driving 4Using a mobile phone 5Not in proper control 15Other (minor road traffic offences) 100Jumping a red light 16

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