Driver sought over mystery injury of teenage triathlete in the New Forest
The seriously injured 14-year-old girl was found in the road after a silver vehicle passed
Broken bike (pic by garryknight, www.flickr.com)
A driver is being sought after a mysterious incident that left a 14-year-old triathlete seriously injured.
The teenage girl, who is ranked third for her age in the triathlon, was out training in the New Forest with her father when she raced ahead from him to crest a hill.
While she was out of sight, a silver vehicle overtook the father in the direction of his daughter.
When he eventually caught up with her, he found her seriously injured in the road, and she was taken to Southampton General Hospital with head injuries, a broken collar bone and multiple cuts.
Sergeant Richard Grant from Hampshire Police told the Southampton Daily Echo that police need to establish whether the silver vehicle was involved or whether the girl, from Ferndown, came off her cycle during the incident at 5.30pm on Sunday.
He said: “We want to speak to anyone who may have seen the cyclists before the incident or who may have witnessed it.
“In particular, we need to speak to the driver of a silver vehicle which was travelling in the same direction and overtook the cyclists shortly before the girl was found lying in the road, injured.”
The cyclists were on Crow Hill, towards Christchurch Road, near Ringwood.
The issue of cycling in the New Forest has provoked much debate of late amongst both residents of the national park and the many cyclists who use it - with some residents both resentful of the numbers of cyclists on the Forest roads at weekends - particularly during the recet New Forest Sportive - and apparently concerned about their impact on the local environment while cyclists point to incidences of inconsiderate and agressive driving.
The following comment is from the New Forest Sportive thread by FATBEGGAR ON A BIKE:
Having just done the Gridiron Audax last Sunday and thoroughly enjoying myself (thank you to all the people involved in the organising and running of this wonderful event) I personnaly can't say that I saw any cyclists more than two abreast even the pairs singled out on small lanes, what I did encounter was a group of ramblers spread all across the road/lane who took their own sweet time about moving to the side of the road to let a ROAD USER through (two went to the opposite kerb to the rest of the group making the gap between narrower than it needed to be and then tutted as I went past) I used my horn, then bell, then my voice to warn them of my approach (nice gentle words only). I had an unpleasent incident with a silver pick up truck coming towards me and bullying his way past rather than put his near side wheel on the grass verge, and then I came across the accident that Chuffy commented on but was not aware of the commotion caused by the little twerp throwing his toys out of his pram! until I got to the village hall/tea & cake stop later (he threatened a cyclist, then told the ambulance driver to move his vehicle then threatened the ambulance driver when he didn't get his way used his van as a weapon nearly hitting a group of cyclists by all accounts deliberatly when turning round before speeding off)
Possibly related?? Silver vehicle in both cases.
Wow! talk about coincidences I wonder if this was the same silver vehicle (& driver) that caused so much grieve at the gridiron event the previous Sunday?
By the way i should have also added that i hope the young lady makes a full recovery and gets well soon.
Bugger! Sevenhills must be a faster typer (?) than me there were no posts when I made my comment
Suppose we have to be thankful that she wasn't training on her own. Hope she recovers.
If the bicycle was invented tomorrow, it would be seen as the solution, not the problem
Bugger! Sevenhills must be a faster typer (?) than me there were no posts when I made my comment
Only if you type one handed!
Two handed but index fingers only
Maybe it's time we all start using helmet cams... and make it known to drivers.
I don't follow trends. Trends follow me.
I cannot understand how anyone in a car could hit another road user and just leave them. I'm not saying that happened in this case as it's not clear, but it does look suspiciously coincidental. If it was the driver of the silver car, I hope (s)he finds out that karma is usually a b1tch.
PS - I hope the cyclist is on the mend soon
Wow! talk about coincidences I wonder if this was the same silver vehicle (& driver) that caused so much grieve at the gridiron event the previous Sunday?
The Gridiron vehicle was a flatbed truck. Yellow, but with silver sides.
We've heard from the police again re: the Gridiron incident. They're currently chasing up the people who reported it. Hopefully everyone who did will be prepared to give a statement, because the police seen keen to stick some charges on this charmless gentleman.
Hope this girl makes a full recovery and they get the driver (assuming they were responsible).
"and apparently concerned about their impact on the local environment". I assume this is about road cyclists? What impact do road cyclists have on the local environment relative to cars? Or have I mis-read?
Maybe it's time we all start using helmet cams... and make it known to drivers.
I was wondering about a jersey design that serves as just such a warning. ''CCTV in operation for my safety' etc...
If the bicycle was invented tomorrow, it would be seen as the solution, not the problem
When I raced Primera New Forest triathlon back in Sept, I witnessed a road rage demonstration by a Saab color champagne/silver.
I was 30m behind a rider and after the car overtook me quickly, the driver tried to put the rider out of the road. The scene lasted for 2/3min where he was using his car as a weapon.
I was too far behind to catch them up or see the plates. He finally get away. The competitor was pretty shocked.
Probably an other local, 
Very upsetting, this country is shameful at times.
I hope this talented young girl makes a full recovery as soon as possible and returns to her sport. My thoughts are with her family and father.
emily.b
So this is what some coward driver has been reduced too? a 14 year old, hope she recovers quickly and is back riding.
I used to train in the New Forest, I could go for miles and miles without even seeing a car. It was a haven of peace and quite, one of my favourite tricks was to see how far I could go with no hands, don't think I would want to try it now.
Seems to me it's time to start calling for the New Forest to be a car free zone.
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