2 Fatal Scooter Crashes Shake Bridgeport in 24 Hours
Hao Lin died after hitting a patrol car, and a second rider was killed the next day in North Park, prompting locals to demand better traffic discipline.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Hao Lin, 39, died after his electric scooter collided with a marked Chicago police vehicle on Princeton Avenue in Bridgeport. The crash occurred last Thursday, and Lin was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. at Stroger Hospital. Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office staff identified him on Monday. He resided in the 3200 block of South Wallace Street.
The incident has intensified local debate over road safety and driver behavior. Sira Rivera, who has lived in Bridgeport for over five years, stated that police vehicles frequently ignore stop signs in the neighborhood. He described the driving style of officers as erratic, noting that such incidents are not uncommon. Rivera lives less than four blocks from the collision site.
Residents also pointed to the conduct of scooter and bicycle riders. Frank, a lifelong resident living one block from the scene, said riders often proceed through stop signs and traffic signals without pausing. He argued that this behavior creates a hazard for both the riders and motorists. He advocated for strict adherence to standard traffic rules for all users of the road.
The crash involving Lin was not an isolated event in the city. The following day, a 67-year-old man riding a stand-up electric scooter was struck by a speeding SUV in North Park. He also died in that crash. The two fatalities within 24 hours have drawn attention to the frequency of high-speed collisions involving electric scooters.
Chicago Police Department’s Major Accidents Investigation Unit is currently examining the Princeton Avenue crash. Investigators have not yet determined whether the officers or Lin bore fault for the collision. Two officers in the patrol car were transported to the University of Illinois Hospital for treatment. Chicago Fire Department personnel treated Lin at the scene before his transfer to Stroger Hospital. The medical examiner's office stated that the results of Lin’s autopsy remain inconclusive.
The police vehicle was traveling northbound on patrol when it struck the scooter. The collision occurred in a residential area where residents report high visibility and moderate traffic speeds. The investigation continues to assess the sequence of events leading to the fatal impact. No traffic light violations by the scooter rider have been confirmed or denied by police at this time.
