English YouTube star Emily Hartridge, known for a weekly vlogging show tackling myriad topics as well as for some presenter work over at Channel 4, has died at the age of 35. Reports indicate the YouTube presenter was involved in an electric scooter on truck accident while riding in London.
Someone near to her broke the news on social media as Emily Hartridge – Emily Hart on YouTube – typically drops video on Mondays.
The message also says Instagram was the easiest way to contact everyone in the same moment, noting,
Emily was involved in an accident and passed away. We all loved her to bits and she will never be forgotten. She has touched so many lives it’s hard to imagine things without her. She was a very special person.
A report from the police department indicates the collision occurred where Queenstown Road meets Battersea Park Road SW8. Officers and London ambulance attendants were on hand at the scene, but Emily Hartridge died of her injuries. The accident occurred on Friday, July 12, but her family did not want her name released at the time.
Her boyfriend, Jake Hartzell, also took to Instagram to talk about Emily’s tragic accident and sudden death. He reassured fans he is doing fine, but he still looks bent out of shape, which is understandable, given it’s been just a few days since Emily passed.
He also says Emily was “the person who encouraged me to talk about what I was feeling,” which is why he was letting people know he was going to be OK.
Emily Hart’s “10 Reasons Why” series had been running on YouTube since 2012 at the time of her death. Her last video, entitled “10 Reasons To Get A Younger Boyfriend” actually showed Emily Hartridge getting surprised with two scooters for her birthday by Jake.
It’s fairly common to hear of scooters causing accidents. As electric scooters have become more popular, particularly in metropolitan areas, both accidents and deaths have occurred in varying situations. Scooters can even go up to 20-30 miles per hour and people often use them on sidewalks, similar to pedestrians rather than vehicle traffic. A Rutgers study found that scooter injuries have increased greatly in recent years, going from 2,325 accidents in 2008 to 6,957 in 2018. The risk increases when people do not wear helmets while riding.
Still, in general scooter use is widespread, particularly in areas with heavier traffic. Despite the risks, you don’t expect someone to hop on a scooter and lose his or her life. This must be the hardest news imaginable for Emily's parents, her partner and her siblings. Our thoughts go out to the family during this difficult time.
