Police appeal to find Peugeot driver after cyclist dies

Police believe that the driver of a blue Peugeot car may have information that will help them understand how a cyclist, who has since died in hospital, came to be lying unconscious on a road in south west Scotland last month.

James Murray, aged 22, and from in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, died from head injuries in Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on August 18.

The cyclist had been discovered unconscious three days earlier on the B797 on the B797 on August 15 a few kilometres from his home in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway.

In an appeal on Facebook, Sergeant Leigh McCulloch of Police Scotland said: “Enquiries into the circumstances of this fatal road crash are continuing and we would like to speak to any witnesses who have not already contacted police.

“In particular we would like to speak to the driver of a blue Peugeot 306 or 307 which was seen travelling on this road towards Mennock around the time of the incident,” she added.

Mr Murray had been riding a Carrera road bike, according to police, who say that no other vehicle was involved.

The cyclist was discovered by a resident of Sanquhar, which lies on the B797, and who told the Daily Record: “He was just lying there beside the bike and I got out my van to see if I could help.

“He was unconscious and I tried to phone for help but couldn’t get a signal. I only had to wait a minute or two before another car appeared on the road.

“They stayed with him while I drove back up to the village and asked somebody to phone for an ambulance.

“I’m sad to hear he died.”

A keen cyclist, Mr Murray had overcome autism as a youth and four years ago carried the Olympic torch through Dumfries ahead of London 2012.

Police Scotland have notified the Procurator Fiscal of his death. Anyone with information is requested to contact Roads Policing on 101.