Southampton striker under investigation after crash left cyclist in critical condition

Footballer Charlie Austin has been under police investigation after a crash which left a cyclist critically injured. The Mirror reports that the Southampton striker – who has not been arrested – hit the man as he set of from traffic lights in October.

In a statement, Austin said: “In late October 2016, I was driving in the city centre of Southampton and had stopped at traffic lights at a junction.

“I moved forward when the lights turned green and it was at that point that a cyclist unexpectedly came across my path and a collision occurred.

“Following a police investigation of the accident, I provided a statement to the Hampshire Constabulary in early 2017 to give them my version of events.”

Austin is reported to have stopped his car to attend to the cyclist, who was then taken to hospital. He has since made regular checks on the man, who has made a gradual recovery.

Hampshire Police declined to comment on the incident.

In 2015, Republic of Ireland midfielder, Darron Gibson, was banned from driving for 20 months and sentenced to a 12-month community order after hitting a cyclist while driving drunk in Bowdon.

The then Everton player ploughed into three cyclists who had stopped on a pavement to fix a chain before driving off at speed. Shortly afterwards, he collided with a pump after pulling in at a petrol station.