Police stop E-scooter rider whose vehicle reached 129 km/h

Police stopped one of two E-scooter riders after they fled on Vienna’s Danube Island, with a test later showing that the vehicle could reach at least 129 km/h, ORF reported.

The two riders were travelling at up to 80 km/h when they saw police and turned around to escape, police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger said. They ignored pedestrians, several of whom had to jump aside to avoid them.

One rider continued accelerating, making the scooter unstable. The 20-year-old nearly fell, allowing officers to stop him near the watersports centre. His companion escaped.

A roller test found that the scooter could reach a top speed of at least 129 km/h and may have been capable of going faster. Its chassis, wheels and brakes were not designed for such speeds.

An official doctor determined that the 20-year-old was unfit to drive, partly because he was severely fatigued. He faces multiple charges, and police reported him to prosecutors on suspicion of endangering physical safety. The scooter was seized, and officers are searching for the other rider.