Hit and run victim’s plea for van man to call police

CYCLIST WAS KNOCKED OFF BIKE, BREAKING KNEECAP

A CYCLIST who suffered a broken kneecap in a hit and run has made a personal appeal for the driver involved to come forward.

The 53-year-old man, who does not want to be named, was taken to hospital after he was struck by a white van at about 7.45am last Monday in Ashby Road, Loughborough.

The father-of-four, who lives in Loughborough, made the appeal direct from the Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham.

“The van driver did not stop after hitting me,” he said.

“I am asking him man to man to do the right thing and to contact the police about this.

“My right kneecap was split in two and has had to be wired together by surgeons. I could be on crutches for the next six months.”

The man, who cycles to work every day, said he was on his way to work when the van hit him.

“It was a really big white van, one of those Luton-type vans,” he said. “He went to overtake near one of those pedestrian islands in the middle of the road.

“I think he realised he did not have enough room to get past me properly so he accelerated and one of his wheels went on the kerb.

“The van went past me and smacked me on the shoulder. I tried to correct my steering and fell over at speed. I think my kneecap took the full impact. I looked up to see that the van did not stop. I tried to stand up and could see my knee was out of place.

“A woman driver stopped and called an ambulance for me. Another car stopped and luckily for me it was a first responder from Loughborough University.

“He gave me gas and air and that was welcome pain relief.

“I was taken to QMC by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

“At QMC, I was operated on where they have wired my broken kneecap together. It was not a pleasant experience. I would again appeal to the van driver to get in touch with the police so this can be sorted out.”

The police have appealed to the driver to contact them.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were called by the ambulance service at around 7.50am (Monday) to a report of a road traffic collision.

“It happened in Ashby Road, Loughborough, and involved a white van and a cyclist.

“The cyclist sustained an injury to his leg following the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment.

“The van failed to stop at the scene.

“Inquiries continue to trace the driver and determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone with information about what happened can call 101 quoting crime reference 76 of January 11.”