A six-year-old boy in Steinbach, DeMari Disna, is confined indoors for the remainder of his summer vacation following a collision with an electric bike. DeMari was walking with his sisters and friends at a soccer park near his home when a youth on an e-bike crashed into him, resulting in a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg.
After a 19-hour wait at Bethesda Regional Health Centre for a soft cast, DeMari was transferred to Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg for a hard cast. His mother, Shannon Broesky, mentioned that he is handling the situation well, despite being an energetic child who recently received a trampoline and bike for his birthday in July.
Broesky, who usually watches her children play at the park from home, was not an eyewitness to the accident but was informed by her daughters that a teenage girl accidentally hit DeMari with the e-bike. She is now advocating for stricter regulations concerning these vehicles after witnessing the incident affecting her son.
The Manitoba government is currently working on legislation regarding battery-powered bikes and scooters. Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor expressed concern over the incident and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensure the safety of residents by updating regulations accordingly.
In response to the accident, Steinbach’s mayor, Earl Funk, acknowledged the potential dangers of e-bikes, highlighting the need for increased regulation and education. The City of Morden has already implemented its own bylaws, including helmet requirements and adherence to traffic rules for e-bike users.
Morden’s mayor, Nancy Penner, emphasized the importance of establishing clear guidelines at the provincial level, especially regarding age restrictions for e-bike and e-scooter usage. She stressed the need for consistent regulations across different municipalities to promote safety on shared pathways.
Despite the incident, Broesky expressed forgiveness towards the teen involved in the collision and emphasized the importance of accountability over confrontation. She highlighted the potential for accidents to happen to anyone and the significance of handling such situations with understanding and empathy.