Tokyo man falls, dies after falling from electric scooter

Electric scooters unrelated to the fatal accident in Tokyo on Sept. 25 Asahi Shimbun File photo A driver of an electric standup scooter fell from the vehicle and died in Tokyo, marking the first death in Japan involving an e-scooter, the Metropolitan Police Department reported on Sept. 26.

According to the Tsukishima Police Station in the capital, the accident occurred in a parking lot of an apartment building in Tokyo's Chuo Ward at around 10: 45 p.m. on Sept. 25.

While riding an electric scooter at the parking lot, the 52 year-old company executive from Minato Ward slammed into a concrete curb. He fell forward and hit his head hard.

The man was not wearing a helmet when he was involved in the accident, according to the police.

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to police, he was apparently operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

He was riding an electric scooter rented from a company that was certified to operate the business under the government's demonstration experiment.

Drivers of electric scooters are required to wear a helmet because the vehicles are classified as motorized bicycles under the Road Traffic Law.

The demonstration experiment, which treats electric scooters as small motor vehicles, such as tractors, made helmet wearing optional.