Nicola Perrelli's Electric Scooter Accident: A Cautionary Tale
Nicola Perrelli has broken both shoulders after a fall from an electric scooter. The accident occurred during the launch of Pinsa, and he was hospitalized for 10 days.
The incident happened on June 11 when restaurateur Nicola Perrelli, 56, was traveling between two meetings on Karlavägen in Stockholm, near Humlegården.
He slowed down at a crosswalk with a slight elevation when the scooter suddenly braked sharply.
– I slowed down, and then the scooter suddenly stopped, causing me to fly over and land on my shoulders. The handlebar hit my stomach. I also scraped my face. I woke up feeling 'damn, I'm in pain,' he recounts.
He was assisted by two passersby and taken by ambulance to the hospital. In addition to some rib fractures, he broke both shoulders and underwent two surgeries in two days.
He received a brace for his arms and now has a total of twelve screws in each arm.
Will Never Ride Bolt Again
According to Perrelli, the accident was caused by a fault in the Bolt scooter.
– Usually, when you ride a Bolt and release the throttle, it slows down gradually. This one died and braked sharply. There was something wrong with the scooter itself.
He used to ride an electric scooter every day, but he will never do it again, he says.
– Never in my life. It goes so fast, and you are completely unprotected on an electric scooter, he says.
Once he recovers, he plans to contact Bolt.
During his hospital stay, his wife, cousins, and nephews visited.
– But I don't want too many people; it's too chaotic, he says.
On June 21, he was discharged and is now undergoing rehabilitation. His shoulders are expected to be fully healed in six months.
– Now my wife has to take care of me. I'm still tired and taking morphine. It takes a toll on the body when it's healing, he says.
Broke His Thigh Last Summer
Luck is not on Perrelli's side.
The accident occurred during the launch of Perrelli's new pizza kit.
Last summer, he also broke his thigh during a vacation in Greece. He slipped on the hotel floor on his way to breakfast.
– I was wearing flip-flops, and they had mopped the floor with soap without putting up a warning sign.
Despite this, he remains positive and looks forward to the summer.
– You have to think positively; it could have been much worse. I could have hit my head and become paralyzed. Health is the most important thing, he says.
Jens Öhgren, PR manager at Bolt, regrets Perrelli's accident and wishes him a speedy recovery. He confirms that Perrelli made a trip that day – and that the same scooter was later sent for repair.
“Repairs were likely related to the incident, but I cannot confirm it with complete certainty. We have not received any report from the user.”
Öhgren says they will follow up on the incident internally – but he does not believe the accident happened as Perrelli describes.
“Safety is Bolt's highest priority. Our assessment is that it is highly unlikely that the scooter would stop so abruptly due to a motor-related fault. In such cases, the scooter normally slows down gradually.”