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11-year-old cyclist injured by hit and run… cyclistroad.cc news

11-year-old cyclist injured by hit and run… cyclist

Rugby dreams on hold for West Sussex youngster following knee injury
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, Dec 05, 2011 11:39
5

A mother whose 11-year-old son was left with his leg in a splint after he was knocked off his bike in a hit-and-run incident has branded the adult cyclist involved in the incident as “an absolute disgrace.”

Morgan Day, aged 11, had been hoping to break into Worthing RFC’s under-12 first team, but his rugby is firmly on hold right now as he recovers from a chipped kneecap sustained in the incident last Wednesday morning.

The collision took place as Morgan rode to school last Wednesday morning close to the A259 in Rustington, Littlehapmpton, West Sussex.

The male cyclist involved, who is thought to be aged in his 30s, rode off without stopping to check whether the youngster was okay.

Morgan’s mother, Mia Day, told the Littlehampton Gazzette: “I’m just so angry. The man is an absolute disgrace.

“Morgan tried to go towards the edge of the path, but this man just knocked into him.

“Morgan went flying off his bike, over the handle bars, hitting the floor head-first.

“He was shaking like a leaf when I picked him up. I took one look at him and said, ‘A&E, right now’.”

After being treated at Worthing Hospital, the schoolboy’s leg is now in a splint, putting a brake on his rugby ambitions.

“He has been working so hard to get into the A team,” explained his mother. “This is a real set-back for him.

“He was just mortified. The man should be ashamed of himself,” she added. “If I’d have knocked a child down I would have gone straight back.”

Morgan, who plays at both scrum half and full-back, said: “It’s difficult. I wanted to get high in the team, but now I can’t play. It’s pretty annoying.”

His mother hopes that the cyclist may yet come forward to apologise. “I know he didn’t do it on purpose,” she said, “but I think the least he could do would be to say sorry for what he did.

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t have known Morgan had fallen down.”

West Sussex
rugby
hit-and-run
Anti-social Cycling
Simon MacMichael

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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5 comments

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Marky Legs | 12 years ago
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This should be treated the same way as a car driver hit and run. Throw the book at him to teach him a lesson and all those who think along the same lines.

Accidents do happen, but it's the way we react to those accidents that's almost as important as being aware (& caring) enough to avoid them in the first place

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A V Lowe | 12 years ago
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Sounds like a regular commuter who should be riding at that sort of speed on the road not on a shared path (even if there are few pedestrians on that section). Go back to same location at same times with a Police officer and you'll most likely spot the guy blasting along. Then get the Police to instruct him to stop (I know it would be nice to do this yourself with a stick in the front wheel as the reserve option, but that is dropping down the the same level).

This has happened before when car drivers have hit and run at commuting times - many are also commuting and use same routes at same times.

If this is his standard of riding, the story in a local paper may also bring in other reports.

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notfastenough replied to A V Lowe | 12 years ago
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A V Lowe wrote:

Sounds like a regular commuter who should be riding at that sort of speed on the road not on a shared path (even if there are few pedestrians on that section).

True, but for many cyclists, it won't take much repetition of "Get off the road, use the cycle path, idiot!" from the angrier minority of car drivers before they heed that statement, regardless of speed.

Liking the idea of anticipating the culprit's morning routine though.

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pedalpowerDC replied to notfastenough | 12 years ago
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If the angry motorist cares to talk, I let them know that the path is made for kids and old people and walkers and strollers and not me and my friends doing 20mph+. If they have a problem with it, they can park their car and walk to where ever they are going.

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Angelfishsolo | 12 years ago
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If he doesn't come forward may the wheel(s) of Karma find him!

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