Cycle helmet plea after youngster’s bike injuries

Father issues warning after 12-year-old suffers broken wrist in collision with bus while not wearing protection

Youngsters are being urged to wear helmets when cycling after a 12-year-old from Dundee was seriously injured in a crash with a bus.

Ricky Rae Jr was let out of hospital yesterday afternoon, three days after the accident happened as he was riding home from school.

The youngster’s bike accidentally left the pavement on Strathmartine Road near the junction with Dunavon Gardens at around 4pm on Monday.

He was thrown against the windscreen of an Xplore Dundee bus, causing it to smash. He then fell to the ground and ended up the middle of the road.

Ricky, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to Ninewells Hospital with a bad cut to his scalp, a broken right wrist and cuts and bruises to his face.

His dad, Ricky Sr, 46, said: “He was not wearing a cycling helmet at the time.

“If Ricky had been wearing a helmet then he wouldn’t have been so badly hurt.

“Kids are taking cycle helmets out of the house but they then put them in a school bag as it is not seen as cool to wear them.

“We want to use this situation to stress to kids they need to wear helmets while cycling.”

Ricky junior is a pupil at Baldragon Academy in the city and his father wants to hold an assembly or project at the school to highlight the importance of wearing a helmet.

At the time of the crash Ricky was cycling to the home of his mother, Suzan Gilham.

Mr Rae said the youngster, who has two brothers, Nicholas, 10, and Ethan, seven, has been suffering flashbacks of the crash when he is asleep.

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The school has been in touch with the family to offer support.

“Bike skills sessions have been offered in the school and they are looking to build on this in the future.”

Police Scotland and an ambulance crew attended the crash scene and the road was closed for a short time on Monday.

The police are taking no further action and described the crash as a minor accident.

A spokesman for Xplore Dundee said: “We hope that the young fellow is all right.

“The bus was taken out of service so repairs could be carried out.”

“If Ricky had been wearing a helmet then he wouldn’t have been so badly hurt. RICKY RAE SENIOR

Ricky Rae Jr was badly hurt in a collision with a bus while riding home from school not wearing a helmet.