Prince William writes letter to WA woman who lost brother, Leigh Tagell, in tragic e-scooter crash

Prince William has responded to a letter from a WA woman who saw him riding an e-scooter without a helmet just months after losing her brother in a tragic e-rideable crash. Brooke Lane’s brother, Leigh Tagell, died when he lost control of his e-scooter after hitting a crack in the concrete pavement in Kalgoorlie on Valentine’s Day. He was not wearing a helmet. The 41-year-old was flown to Royal Perth Hospital with life-threatening injuries where he died three days later. Ms Lane has since become an advocate for e-rideable safety, lending her voice to a parliamentary inquiry in hopes it will prevent similar tragedies. In October, she wrote to the Prince after watching a video of him riding an e-scooter without a helmet around Windsor Castle on his way to an interview with American comedian Eugene Levy. In the video, published by Entertainment Tonight, Levy asks the Prince if e-scooters are his main mode of transport, to which he replies: “It is around here, yes”. “It gets around quite nicely around here, it’s quite fun.” In her letter, Ms Lane relayed the story of her brother, and urged the Prince to set an example and wear a helmet. “I recently saw your interview with Eugene Levy and admired your openness and the way you continue to inspire people through your leadership and community involvement,” her letter reads. “It was wonderful to see you travelling on an e-scooter — they truly are a positive step towards sustainable transport and a cleaner future.” “I am writing as someone who advocates for e-scooter safety after losing my brother, Leigh Tagell, in a tragic e-scooter accident in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, in February this year,” she wrote. “Since then, I’ve been dedicated to raising awareness about safety and encouraging the use of helmets to help prevent further loss of life. “I also recently participated in a Parliamentary Inquiry in the Western Australian Parliament to help improve education and strengthen regulations around e-rideables. “Seeing you ride without a helmet prompted me to reach out — not in criticism, but with great respect and hope. “Your influence is immense, and many riders look up to you. “By wearing a helmet publicly, you could help reinforce the message that safety is just as important as sustainability. “Thank you for your time, your compassion, and your ongoing efforts to make a difference in so many areas of people’s lives.” Head of Royal Correspondence James Dawson responded on October 31, telling Ms Lane the Prince had extended his condolences and that her message had been “carefully noted”. “It was deeply saddening to hear about the passing of your beloved brother, and I am to express The Prince’s sincere condolences to you and your family,” he said. “His Royal Highness would have me pass on his appreciation to you for taking the time to write to him, and I can ensure you your comments have been carefully noted. “Thank you once again for writing to The Prince of Wales, who should have me send his best wishes to you and your family.” Ms Lane said she was shocked the Prince had responded to her, and said she was touched by his compassion. “I couldn’t believe it, my husband got the letter because I’m in Queensland ... so my husband said, ‘Oh, you got a letter from Kensington Palace’, and I was like, ‘What?’ because I didn’t think I was actually going to get a reply,” she told The West Australian. “I’m just some girl that lives in Safety Bay, yeah my brother had an accident and he passed away, but I was shocked that he reached out. “I reached out to the Prime Minister and they didn’t send an email back with any empathy or compassion, it was just like, refer to the Department.” She said public figures were role models who needed to lead by example. “They need to do the right thing because if they’re doing the right thing, then the community are going to do the right thing as well,” she said. “People look up to leaders — especially Prince William who does such great things.” Ms Lane pleaded with e-scooter riders to prioritise their safety and wear a helmet. “Safety comes first, wear a helmet,” she said. “You could hit anything like a car, fence, tree root ... just think about your safety first and others as well.”