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

Jun 22 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal

Police say the car lost a wing mirror in the incident, and believe there would be visible evidence of damage to the car.

Insp Paul Gilroy, of Northumbria Police, said: “We urgently need to trace the offending car and driver. The driver must have been aware of the collision when they chose to drive off from the scene. We also need to identify the injured man and contact his next of kin as soon as possible.”

Staff at The Beacon pub, near the site of the crash, saw the police cars and ambulance racing to the scene.

Barman David Pringle, 22, of nearby Wellfield, said: “I walked along from home to work at about 9.55am and I saw the police cars coming down fast with lights flashing. There was a woman in the road directing traffic away from the road. There were three police cars coming and an ambulance. I thought it must be something serious.” Alex Burn, 19, who also works in the pub and lives on Red House Drive, just off Monkseaton Drive, said: “When I drove past the road it must have been just minutes after it happened. The road was already closed off and I thought I could see someone lying in the road.”

The cyclist was wearing a beige sweatshirt and black tracksuit bottoms and was riding a red Falcon Long Beach mountain bike. Anyone with information is asked to call police motor patrols on 0345 604-3043, ext 63848.