My pothole nightmare
A CYCLIST who was seriously injured when a monster pothole sent him flying believes it could kill its next victim.
Kevin Farrell had to have his face stitched back together after he was flung through the air together with four of his cycling companions.
His front tyre exploded after hitting the pothole and he was unseated before his fellow amateur cyclists ploughed into him on the outskirts of York city centre last Wednesday.
Father-of-two Kevin is now on a liquid diet and is unable to open his left eye after he needed surgery to repair a torn nose and lip.
Kevin, 53, from York, says the 24 by 16 inch pothole, which is 3.5 inches deep, will cause a fatality.
Killed
“The problem is someone is going to get killed,” he said. “We have seen potholes all summer long and we just don’t see them being repaired.
“We are all experienced, but if it was a child or someone less experienced, who knows what might have happened?
“Luckily, there was a North Yorkshire Police van nearby and the officers helped stop traffic and called ambulances, while the hospital was only five minutes away.”
The other four riders suffered injuries including a broken collar bone, cracked vertebrae and bleeding on the kidneys, as well as cuts and abrasions.
The self-employed electrical contractor, who is hoping to take legal action, said: “There was a big lorry behind us, so it could have been a lot worse.
“I think the helmet saved me and I think it is time they were made compulsory. I just don’t want somebody else to get hurt. It always takes something bad to happen before anything is done.”
City of York Council said it was not aware of the incident but pledged to investigate if supplied with more information.
A council spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear that a group of cyclists had an accident on Wigginton Road on Wednesday. We have not been made aware of an incident.
“Our inspectors check Wigginton Road on a regular basis.
“We would welcome further information so we can investigate if a repair is required to prevent a re-occurrence.
“As with any insurance claim this will be assessed by our insurers – we wish them a speedy recovery.”