A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken Vranje and all of Serbia! A 12-year-old boy riding an electric scooter failed to stop at a STOP sign and was hit by a truck. The consequences? Life-threatening severe injuries, and tragically, the boy had to have his leg amputated up to the hip. Doctors at the University Clinical Center in Niš, which covers a third of Serbia including children from northern Kosovo, are fighting for his life. His condition is now stable, conscious, and communicative, but he remains under close observation for possible complications.
This is not an isolated case! Just two weeks ago, the same clinic admitted five children with severe injuries from two-wheeled vehicles. Open fractures, head injuries, internal organ damage, and polytrauma are daily dangers for kids on scooters and bicycles. Doctors warn that these injuries are extremely serious and require complex treatment.
Witnesses describe horrifying scenes: the truck was moving slowly, but the boy suddenly darted out from a side street, didn’t stop at the STOP sign, didn’t look left or right, and went straight under the wheels. Emergency services responded quickly, but the injuries were too severe. The Vranje prosecutor’s office is investigating, and parents and the community are left in shock over the outcome.
This tragedy shines a harsh light on the serious problem of child safety in traffic, especially for those using electric scooters and other two-wheelers. Is it time for stricter measures, education, and enforcement? Or will we keep watching children exposed to dangers that can have catastrophic consequences? While doctors continue their fight for this boy’s life, everyone else should ask themselves — how much of a priority is our children’s safety, really?
Got thoughts on this? Maybe you’ve witnessed something similar? Drop a comment below. Let’s open our eyes together and maybe, just maybe, stop the next tragedy before it happens!
