Four arrested after off-duty cop injured in ‘hit-and-run’
OUR THOUGHTS ARE VERY MUCH WITH OUR COLLEAGUE INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT AND WITH HIS FAMILY
A CYCLIST seriously injured in an alleged hit and run collision in the early hours of Saturday was a police officer on his way home from his shift, it has been revealed.
The man, in his 50s, was struck by a vehicle on the B4114 (St John’s) shortly after leaving the force headquarters in Enderby, according to police.
He remains in a serious condition in hospital, where colleagues and his employer are providing him and his family their “full support”.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Two men, aged 22 and 30, and a woman, 33, all from Leicester, were traced after the incident, shortly before 3.20am on Saturday.
They were detained on suspicion of “causing serious injury by dangerous driving”.
A 36-year-old man, also of Leicester, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
All four were released investigation on Sunday.
A police spokeswoman said: “The under police officer was cycling home after finishing his shift when he was involved in a collision with a car at 3.18am.
“The incident happened in St John’s, near the Foxhunter roundabout junction with Blaby Road and Enderby Road.
“The car, a grey Audi RS3, was reported to have left the scene of the incident shortly afterwards.”
She added: “The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries where he remains.
“His family are aware and the force is providing full support to both the officer and his family.”
Superintendent Adam Slonecki said: “Our thoughts are very much with our colleague involved in this incident and with his family. We are providing full support to him and his family at this time.
“We also have welfare support in place for the officer’s colleagues in force and are providing regular updates.”
He added: “We have a dedicated team carrying out a full investigation into the incident leading to these four arrests being made today.
“We continue to appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to make contact with police.”
A section of the county-bound
B4114 between Leicester Lane and the Foxhunter roundabout remained closed until shortly after 9am on Saturday while serious collision investigators examined the scene.
An investigation into the collision was launched and the grey Audi believed to have been involved in the incident was found on a new housing estate a few miles away from the scene, in Huncote, on Saturday afternoon.
The vehicle, which had damage to its front and windscreen, was removed by accident investigators for further examination.
“The Audi vehicle, believed to have been involved in the incident, has since been located in Peers Way, Huncote,” the police spokeswoman confirmed. “From initial enquiries, it is not believed the officer was targeted in any way in this incident.” Detectives are appealing for witnesses top the crash, as well as anyone who may have seen the Audi in the area of The Pastures, in Enderby afterwards.
Senior investigating officer, Detective
Sergeant Paul Hawkins said: “This is a collision which has left one of our colleagues in hospital with serious injuries.
“We have now made four arrests and our investigation remains very much ongoing.
“Anyone who has any information in relation to the collision or the vehicle involved should make contact with us if you have not already done so.
“If you happened to be in the area during the early hours, or have any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area which could assist this investigation, please get in touch.”
Assistant Chief Constable Julia Debenham said: “My thoughts are with our colleague, his family and our wider policing family.
“Thanks to everyone who worked so hard in relation to incident.”
Chief Constable Simon Cole added: “Thanks to other colleagues, both on and off duty, who stopped and gave first aid.”
Anyone with information should contact detectives using the police 101 number or get in touch using the police website.
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