Another crash involving a vehicle and a motorized wheelchair is adding fuel to a growing conversation in Portsmouth: are mobility scooter and wheelchair users following traffic laws—and do drivers know the rules either?
Police were called to 11th Street after a report of a collision between a Chevy Equinox and a motorized wheelchair. According to the caller, the man in the wheelchair left the scene and headed toward Kroger before officers arrived.
Two Stories, One Collision
Officers later located the wheelchair user at the Alexandria House Apartments and spoke with both parties.
- The driver said they were blocking the crosswalk briefly while preparing to pull onto 11th Street when a woman and a man in a motorized wheelchair entered the crosswalk in front of them. The vehicle sustained two small black marks, believed to be from the wheelchair’s plastic.
- The wheelchair user disputed that the crosswalk was blocked, saying the vehicle had stopped—then began moving again after he entered the crosswalk, causing the collision. The wheelchair had broken plastic, consistent with contact.
What Police Determined
After reviewing the situation, officers said the man operating the motorized wheelchair was in violation of traffic laws.
Police cited Ohio law stating that no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle so close as to create an immediate hazard.
Despite the disagreement, neither party wanted a formal crash report filed—only documentation of the incident.
A Growing Pattern
This isn’t an isolated call.
Police logs show multiple recent incidents involving cars and motorized wheelchairs or mobility scooters, raising concerns about right-of-way confusion, unsafe crossings, and inconsistent rule-following—by both drivers and wheelchair users.
Motorized wheelchairs and scooters are not cars, but they are also not exempt from traffic laws. When used in roadways and crosswalks, operators are expected to follow pedestrian rules designed to prevent exactly this kind of crash.
Is There a Bigger Problem?
As these incidents continue to pop up, residents are asking tough questions:
- Are mobility scooter and wheelchair users fully aware of traffic laws?
- Are drivers watching closely enough, especially near crosswalks?
- Is enforcement—or education—falling short?
We want to hear from you.
👉 Is there a growing problem with motorized wheelchair and scooter users obeying traffic laws in Portsmouth—or are drivers failing to share the road safely?
Sound off and join the conversation.