A 9-year-old boy riding an electric scooter was struck and killed by a minivan in the Sully Square area of Fairfax County on Thursday.

The collision happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Madden Court, in the Fair Oaks District about 10 miles from Vienna, when the driver of a 2012 Honda Odyssey made a left turn from Highland Mews Court into a parking area, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. The child on the scooter collided with the rear passenger side of the vehicle, police said.

The boy was taken to a hospital in life-threatening condition and later pronounced dead. The driver, an adult woman, was not injured and stayed at the scene.

At a Friday press conference, Capt. Harold Morris, the FCPD's assistant traffic division commander, said investigators found no evidence of reckless driving.

"There's no indication at this time that there's any unsafe or reckless manner in which the driver, an adult female, was operating this van," Morris said.

Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors, according to the department's Crash Reconstruction Unit, which is continuing its investigation. Police said the child did not appear to be wearing a helmet. Detectives are still working to determine what class of scooter the boy was riding.

County helmet law took effect weeks before crash

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors updated the county code on June 23 to require anyone under 15 to wear a protective helmet while riding any electrically powered scooter, e-bike or motorized skateboard on local roads. That law took effect July 1, just over three weeks before the fatal crash.

Previously, the county had only required helmets for bicycle riders under 15. Virginia law also prohibits anyone younger than 14 from operating a Class 3 e-bike, motorized skateboard or scooter unless supervised by an adult 18 or older.

Vienna police campaign highlighted helmet safety

The crash comes as the Vienna Police Department continues its E-Bike Safety Awareness Campaign, launched May 29 in response to community concerns about unsafe riding. The Town of Vienna Police said on X that officers have been actively patrolling streets and speaking with riders about safety rules, Virginia e-bike classifications, and where electric vehicles are permitted.

In a June 24 installment of the campaign, the department partnered with Trek Bicycle to share helmet safety tips, emphasizing that a properly fitted, CPSC-certified helmet is "one of the most important safety steps" a rider can take.

FCPD chaplains and victim specialists were dispatched to support the boy's family and other affected community members, including the family of the minivan driver.

How to report information

Anyone with information about the July 23 crash can call the FCPD Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477). Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards.