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NHS worker who was left for dead watched motorist that hit him drive away

The 50-year-old was left with a fractured spine after the collision

A NHS worker who was left for dead with a fractured spine by a hit-and-run driver has described watching the motorist that hit him drive off into the distance.

Mark Richards was struck while riding in a cycle lane while he travelled home from a training run two weeks ago.

He now faces months of rehabilitation after fracturing his spine in three places.

Police Scotland are currently looking for the driver of a Vauxhall Insignia.

Mr Richards, 50, has now been released from hospital. His injuries mean he is only able to lie down or stand up and he has to wear a back brace for three months.

Speaking to the BBC he spoke about the horrific incident that occurred while he was out on a 45-mile training ride. 

The collision took place just four miles from his home on Spittal Terrace, near Hamilton Road in Blantyre.

He said: "The part of road I was on when I was struck by the vehicle had a cycle route at the side of it. I though that was a nice safe route home. I certainly didn't expect to be hit by a car when I was in the cycle lane. 

"I remember the car striking me hard on my body and thinking I had been hit by a vehicle hard, flying through the air, hitting the ground and then coming to a stop and I can vividly remember looking down the road except I was slightly disorientated at the time.

"I can remember seeing a vehicle driving away and me thinking to myself I think that's the car that just hit me and that driver's not stopped, just driven off."

An experienced cyclist, Mr Richards managed to pull himself to the side of the road and passers-by called emergency services.

Ambulance staff, worried about neck and spinal injuries, immobilised him and put him on a back board.

Mr Richards continued: "I knew I was badly hurt and I was worried about the extent of the injuries.

"I knew I had hurt my back and I was worried about whether there would be serious damage done to my spine that could have long-term consequences for me.

"Their initial assessment of the damage was two spinal fractures as well as extensive injuries as a consequence of hitting the ground at speed. On the Monday I had the MRI scan to assess for any other damage to the spinal cord or any additional soft tissue damage.

"The outcome of that scan was I actually had three spinal fractures rather than the two they initially thought. I was in a lot of pain from the damage done to particularly the right side of my body."

Mr Richards, who works as director of nursing at Carstairs Hospital, said the cuts and grazes were 'significant and painful'.

He said: "I was going at about 25mph on my bike downhill and the car could have been doing 40-60mph, so I would have flown a fair distance and skidded before I came to a halt. I had no idea the car was coming. It hit me from behind."

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Our investigation into the hit and run between Blantyre and Cambuslang on Saturday, 24 April, 2021 around 11.25am is ongoing.

"Officers are currently following a positive line of inquiry. Anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police can get in touch."

Mr Richards said: "I have cycled for as long as I can remember.

"I have cycled competitively my whole adult life and I am very keen to get back on the bike, though how I feel about that when I get back on the road, remains to be seen.

"Cycling isn't risk-free. The accident I have had is exceptional but cycling is not risk-free."

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45 comments

Avatar
Richard D replied to orangecannonim | 3 years ago
8 likes

The Governmant has already given its response to the petition.  "The Government takes this issue seriously."  In other words, "The Government intends to do fuck all about this problem, unless or until a member of a Minister's family is a victim.  And we may not act even then."

Failing to stop is about as despicable as it gets.  In almost every situation it is a blatant attempt to pervert the course of justice (something that itself USED to generate a prison sentence as a matter of routine). But it is also a very, very clear statement that the perpetrator should not be allowed to use the roads unsupervised. 

Avatar
bobbinogs replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
5 likes

Yepp, now over the 100k mark...but the Gov has already signalled its intention to do feck all. Golden age of cycling my arse.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to bobbinogs | 3 years ago
1 like
bobbinogs wrote:

Yepp, now over the 100k mark...but the Gov has already signalled its intention to do feck all. Golden age of cycling my arse.

Unfortunately they have already ruled it out at the DfT level. I can only see a u-turn if a famous footballer can pick it up and run with it so the publicity forces a change which seems to be how this government governs. 
 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
4 likes
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

.... I can only see a u-turn if a famous footballer can pick it up and run with it ....

And that would be an offence under current FIFA rules, and would result in an indirect free kick so it wouldn't really help.... Perhaps a rugby player could be of use here

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
0 likes
Captain Badger wrote:
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

.... I can only see a u-turn if a famous footballer can pick it up and run with it ....

And that would be an offence under current FIFA rules, and would result in an indirect free kick so it wouldn't really help.... Perhaps a rugby player could be of use here

How about American Football?

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
0 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:

.......

How about American Football?

I don't think we need their help....

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
4 likes
Captain Badger wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:

.......

How about American Football?

I don't think we need their help....

Just pretend that we've got some untapped oil fields and they'll be straight over

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
1 like
hawkinspeter wrote:

.....

Just pretend that we've got some untapped oil fields and they'll be straight over

Put like that....

We really don't need their help!

Avatar
OnYerBike replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
2 likes

<pedantry> Rugby is a type of football </pedantry>

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to OnYerBike | 3 years ago
0 likes
OnYerBike wrote:

<pedantry> Rugby is a type of football </pedantry>

But is it really though?....

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
1 like

If you see the "traditional" football played in those villages, then yes it is. (plus he picked up a football and ran with it back at the School in Rugby).

 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

If you see the "traditional" football played in those villages, then yes it is. (plus he picked up a football and ran with it back at the School in Rugby).

 

Yeah, still... I know, but... is it really though?.....

Avatar
Jetmans Dad replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
1 like
Captain Badger wrote:
OnYerBike wrote:

<pedantry> Rugby is a type of football </pedantry>

But is it really though?....

Given that the full name of the sport is "Rugby Football" ...

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Jetmans Dad | 3 years ago
0 likes
Jetmans Dad wrote:
Captain Badger wrote:
OnYerBike wrote:

<pedantry> Rugby is a type of football </pedantry>

But is it really though?....

Given that the full name of the sport is "Rugby Football" ...

I know, but... is it really though?.....

Avatar
ktache | 3 years ago
7 likes

Very good luck with a hopefully speedy recovery Mark.

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