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Cyclist flown to hospital after assault by motorcyclist in Kent

Victim suffered serious head injuries after incident in Rochester on Sunday morning

A cyclist has been airlifted to a hospital in London with serious head injuries this morning following what police described as an “altercation” with a motorcyclist in Rochester, Kent.

According to Kent Online, a witness said that the cyclist had jumped a red light, with the motorcyclist then getting of his bike and hitting him.

The witness added that the cyclist then fell to the ground and seemed to be suffering from a fit.

He was put in the recovery position by a passer-by, while the motorcyclist was said to have ridden away.

The incident happened outside The Crown pub on the Medway city’s High Street shortly after 10am on Sunday morning.

Kent Online said that a baseball cap and an item of clothing stained with blood were left at the scene as the helicopter left to fly the cyclist to hospital.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "It is believed there was an altercation between a motorcyclist and a cyclist prior to the assault.

"Officers remain at the scene at this time and inquiries are ongoing."

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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17 comments

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

Not cool to be so disparaging of your newborn younger sibling, nurture her and give her love  3

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dottigirl | 6 years ago
1 like

You tend to assume that motorcyclists, by virtue of their choice of carriage, are a little more observant...

...however, I was out with my newbie sister the other day. She's wobbly, not great on roadcraft and gears, and overweight. I thought it would be obvious to anyone around, as she pulled out of a junction with me shadowing her (behind and slightly outside), that she wasn't used to being on a bike. Nice big junction, good lines of sight. She's doing well.

Then a motorcyclist comes up behind and shouts we should be in single file. He got a loud 'FUCK OFF!' from me. Twat.

 

 

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ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
3 likes

I like to shout at drivers who hold me up by pulling away from traffic lights at a glacial pace... Immediately after speeding to overtake me heading towards the red traffic light. "When you're ready" "Any time today" "Take your time" "No rush" or whatever springs to mind at the time.

But totally not cool having a go at a vulnerable road user who chooses not to squeeze up the inside of a HGV turning left while on a crossing where pedestrians are about to cross. If you don't like it, find a safe place to overtake.

I'm not averse to pointing out dangerous errors to other cyclists though... Narrowly miss me at speed to run a red light while I'm waiting, I'm going to talk to you like 5-year-old when I overtake you 30 seconds later. "Probably not a good idea to jump that red light?" "See how much space I give YOU when I overtake?" "Did you save much time?" "If you pedal harder, you won't need to break the law and put yourself at risk" or whatever suits the situation.

Plenty of dickheads out there, but most of them are in charge of a dangerous weapon.

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Man of Lard | 6 years ago
0 likes

Nah, you're just Mr Short-and-angry. Scottishness plays no part here.

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Man of Lard | 6 years ago
0 likes

@DinosaurJR so you're just a stereotypical short angry bloke then. You'll have to step back because you're under my chin and I can't see you, only hear the annoying drone.

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simonmb | 6 years ago
3 likes

The cyclist is in his 60s - which makes this attack all the more monstrous.

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ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
2 likes

Well that escalated quickly.

Hope they find this violent thug and get him off the road and out of general society.

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Metaphor | 6 years ago
2 likes

Disappointing. Cyclists and motorcyclists are brothers!

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brooksby replied to Metaphor | 6 years ago
5 likes

Ramuz wrote:

Disappointing. Cyclists and motorcyclists are brothers!

Well, cousins, maybe; cousins that I only see at the high holidays and don't really get on with (I find being tailgated along a cycle lane just as intimidating if it's a motorbike as if it's a car).

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Yorkshire wallet replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

Ramuz wrote:

Disappointing. Cyclists and motorcyclists are brothers!

Well, cousins, maybe; cousins that I only see at the high holidays and don't really get on with (I find being tailgated along a cycle lane just as intimidating if it's a motorbike as if it's a car).

Not sure where I sit then. Maybe a bit like kid playing the banjo in Deliverance with a few genetic deficiencies. 

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Daveyraveygravey replied to Metaphor | 6 years ago
3 likes
Ramuz wrote:

Disappointing. Cyclists and motorcyclists are brothers!

I used to think this. But I've had too many close passes and generally shit appreciation of any other road users from self-obsessed inconsiderate motorcyclists to expect decent treatment from them any more

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WillRod | 6 years ago
9 likes

Even if the cyclist did jump a red light, it is not an excuse to beat them up.

I see dozens of dodgy drivers everyday when driving to work, and I'm guessing everyone else spots the idiots too, yet none of us take much action bar hooting or cursing them.

Hot weather often makes people behave differently, and if your dressed up in skintight black leather, you probably get hotter and angrier quicker than normal.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
6 likes

So a ABH/GBH, let's see how much vigour the police put into this.

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Smoggysteve replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
3 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So a ABH/GBH, let's see how much vigour the police put into this.

 

Lets hope the poor guy recovers. If (God forbid) he dies, it's murder. And don't say it's manslaughter since the bikers attack was premeditated. 

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fenix replied to Smoggysteve | 6 years ago
6 likes
Smoggysteve wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So a ABH/GBH, let's see how much vigour the police put into this.

 

Lets hope the poor guy recovers. If (God forbid) he dies, it's murder. And don't say it's manslaughter since the bikers attack was premeditated. 

It's not premeditated. But let's hope the victim recovers.

As for all the cyclists and motorcyclists being cousins ,- forget that. We are all people. Who cares what transport you happen to be on.
You don't punch people.

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Sub4 | 6 years ago
5 likes

Vigilantes. Everywhere. Not good.

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rct replied to Sub4 | 6 years ago
2 likes

Sub4 wrote:

Vigilantes. Everywhere. Not good.

 

Effect of Police cuts and lack of action by investigators and CPS.  Expect to see more.

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