Whitley Bay hit-and-run cyclist fights for his life

Jun 22 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal

A CYCLIST was fighting for life last night after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Police were last night hunting for the driver of a black sports hatchback which is believed to have crashed into a mountain bike on Monkseaton Drive in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, before driving off without stopping.

The collision happened at around 9.50am yesterday near the Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Officers say the car was travelling at speed when it hit the man, before driving off and leaving the cyclist in the road with what doctors have described as “life threatening” injuries.

His condition was being closely monitored at North Tyneside General Hospital last night, as police continued trying to identify the victim, who is described as white and middle-aged, in order to contact his family.

Richard Sharp, deputy manager of the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, told The Journal that staff and customers are shocked by what happened around the corner from the store.

He said: “I was already at work when it happened, and the police came in to ask if we had CCTV, but unfortunately our cameras don’t cover the road. I went out to the road at about 10.45am, after they had taken the man to hospital. The bike was in the middle of the road and I went to ask the police how the man was. Obviously our thoughts are with the man’s family.”

The car was travelling in the same direction as the bike, heading west towards Earsdon Road.