Penn State University football player charged in child injuries in e-scooter accident

Penn State University and a Penn State football player are being sued for negligence following an incident in which the player struck a child while riding an electric scooter on campus, causing injuries.

According to the lawsuit, De’Andre Cook, a freshman on Penn State’s football team, was riding an electric scooter on Penn State’s campus in February when he struck a child crossing North Burrowes Street with his father. The child, then 6 years old, suffered two pelvic fractures, a broken foot and a head injury that required four staples, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed in Center County Court by the child’s father, Shane Richard, says the child has undergone and may be awaiting further medical treatment. It also says the child has suffered or could suffer “severe pain, anxiety, depression, emotional problems, humiliation, loss of pleasure and enjoyment of life and/or a serious impairment of one or more bodily functions.” The lawsuit claims the child “did not contribute in any way” to the crash or injuries.

Cook, mentioned op Penn State Football Squad as a 6-4, 282-pound defensive lineman, he pleaded guilty in March to summary charges of failure to yield to pedestrians and failure to stop at a stop sign and paid a $238 fine, according to online court records.

The lawsuit includes one count of negligence against Penn State for failing to enforce the campus ban on electric scooters, and one count of negligence against Cook for causing the crash while operating the scooter. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff is seeking total damages of at least $100,000.

In the lawsuit, attorney Richard Godshall quotes a Penn State University Policy that prohibits campus use of motorized devices, such as e-scooters, “that do not meet PA Vehicle Code requirements for use on public highways.” The policy states that such devices “may not be used on university property, including buildings, roads, sidewalks, bicycle paths, and shared paths.” According to the lawsuit, the model of electric scooter that Cook was riding is “not authorized for use on public roads in Pennsylvania.”

The lawsuit states that Penn State provided Cook with the electric scooter. It further states that Penn State has violated its policy to promote “favoritism” among student-athletes and has failed to train student-athletes in the safe operation of electric scooters.

“Despite recognizing the dangers posed by e-scooters on campus, and despite the fact that they do not meet the requirements of the PA Vehicle Code for use on public highways, Defendant Penn State nevertheless provides student-athletes, and student-athletes only, the opportunity to utilize this high-speed transportation option,” the lawsuit states. “The particular favoritism accorded by Defendant Penn State to student-athletes like Defendant Cook predictably and directly resulted in the child’s serious injuries.”

Penn State does not comment on pending litigation.

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