A collision between a box truck and a group of electric scooters in Fullerton left two people critically injured and prompted renewed scrutiny of street safety measures for vulnerable road users, police and witnesses said. The crash occurred in a busy commercial corridor where motor vehicle traffic mixes with delivery vehicles and micromobility riders, authorities said.

"Both victims were transported to area hospitals in critical condition," a Fullerton Police Department spokesperson said, declining to release their names pending family notification. Officers blocked off the scene while investigators from the department's traffic unit conducted a preliminary reconstruction and collected witness statements. The truck driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, police said; no arrests have been announced.

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, witnesses said, and bystanders assisted with scene control until paramedics could evaluate the injured. "It was chaotic," one nearby store employee said. "You could see the scooters scattered and people trying to help. You don't expect that here."

The collision has reignited concerns among public health officials and transportation advocates about the risks associated with rapidly expanding shared electric scooter programs. Since dockless scooters hit American streets in the late 2010s, hospitals and emergency departments have reported a steady stream of injuries, particularly head trauma, fractures and soft-tissue injuries, often involving riders who were not wearing helmets. Public health researchers have also noted that emergency visits related to scooters and other micromobility devices can strain local trauma resources, especially when multiple victims require critical care.

"This is about more than individual behavior. It's about infrastructure and policy," said a local transportation safety advocate. "When fast-moving trucks and people on small-wheeled devices occupy the same space without protected lanes, the predictable result is deadly collisions."

Municipal planners and equity advocates point out that scooter users frequently include low-income residents and those without access to cars or reliable transit, meaning the risks are not equally distributed. Without adequate protective infrastructure—such as protected bike lanes, lower vehicle speed limits and targeted enforcement—communities with fewer resources may bear a disproportionate burden of harm.

City officials in Fullerton now face pressure to review traffic patterns, loading zones and delivery routes in commercial corridors where large trucks and micromobility users intersect. Some cities have experimented with time-of-day restrictions for large delivery vehicles, designated loading zones, and stricter speed enforcement as short-term mitigations. Longer-term responses include redesigning streets to reduce conflicts and mandating company-led safety measures from scooter operators.

Police said the investigation will examine speed, right-of-way and whether hazardous conditions contributed to the crash, and that additional information will be released as it becomes available. In the meantime, community members and advocates say the incident underscores the urgency of systemic changes to protect people who walk, bike or use scooters for short trips in urban neighborhoods.

As hospitals continue to treat the injured, the collision serves as a stark reminder that the benefits of micromobility—affordable, low-emission last-mile travel—must be balanced with investments in safety, regulation and equitable planning to prevent further tragedies.