Storm Lake police warn parents after child scooter crash

A scooter ride near the Storm Lake high school ball fields turned into a warning for parents after a child was struck by a vehicle at East 10th Street and Oneida Street. Police said the child rolled through a stop sign Friday afternoon, around 4:50 p.m., and entered the path of an oncoming vehicle. The injuries were described as minor and non-life-threatening, but officers said the outcome could have been far worse.

Storm Lake police used the crash to highlight a pattern they say is becoming harder to ignore: more children are riding scooters and e-bikes around town, and some are doubling up, ignoring stop signs and not following basic traffic rules. The department shared the incident on Facebook Saturday morning as a broader reminder that the risks are rising not just at one intersection, but wherever young riders mix with traffic in Storm Lake.

Police said the city does not have a separate scooter or e-bike ordinance. Riders are expected to follow Iowa bicycle laws and city traffic-control rules, including stop signs, yield signs and other signals. That matters in a city where the Storm Lake Police Department provides 24-hour law enforcement service with 20 sworn officers, but cannot be at every corner when children and teens are out riding on their own.

The crash also points to a busy part of town. East 10th Street near Oneida sits just north of the high school ball fields, an area that brings together students, drivers and neighborhood traffic. In the city’s central business district, bicycles may not be parked on sidewalks except in bicycle racks provided by the city, and the downtown zone is inspected annually under the city’s sidewalk inspection program. Those rules reflect how heavily used that part of Storm Lake is, and why police say predictable riding matters.

State law adds another layer. Iowa defines low-speed electric bicycles as having motors of 750 watts or less, and class 3 low-speed e-bikes cannot go above the posted speed limit on bicycle lanes or multi-use paths, or above 20 miles per hour if no limit is posted. State law also says people under 16 may not operate a class 3 low-speed electric bicycle. The Iowa Department of Transportation advises bicyclists to always wear helmets and be especially cautious at intersections, where sudden mistakes can turn serious in seconds.

Police framed the crash as a reminder that safety starts at home. Their message was simple: parents need to talk with children about supervision, responsible riding and why stop signs matter before the next rider enters a roadway the wrong way.