Drivers ignored plight of cyclist left lying in agony on A5 in Leicestershire
A cyclist, injured in an accident, says he was left lying in agony on the side of the road for 20 minutes as motorists passed by.
Ian Hughes, 66, said he was riding along the A5 just ahead of a lorry when he hit an eight-inch-deep hole in the road.
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His bike flipped over and he crashed to the ground, breaking his arm and tearing muscles in his wrists.
Ian's memories of what happened next are blurry, but he said the lorry went past him and that he lay on the side of the road for between 20 minutes and half an hour with drivers passing by and ignoring him.
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One motorist eventually stopped and lent Ian, from Higham on the Hill, near Hinckley, his phone.
Ian called his wife, Jean, who drove him to hospital.
Describing the accident, which happened on Friday last week at about 10.30am, he said: "I was out cycling for fun and was heading up the A5 to get on to a nice country lane in Warwickshire.
"I was just over the border, outside Atherstone, when I hit a square hole that was full of water.
"One minute I was moving and the next I was in a heap on the floor.
"I had my feet strapped to the pedals, so that stopped me flying over the handlebars and hurting myself more badly.
"I was also lucky the 40-tonne lorry behind me wasn't too close behind me, because he could have hit me.
"As it was, the lorry just went straight past.
"I got to the verge and then lay on the side of the road for quite a while, with no strength to do anything. I was within a foot of the road and motorists would have seen me as they passed but none of them stopped.
"You would have thought it was obvious I'd been hurt. I can't believe it took so long for someone to offer help."
Staff at the George Eliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, plastered his arm and he was sent home.
He also suffered bad bruises to his elbows, hip and shoulder and was unable to use his hands for three days.
"I've got a big family with kids and grandchildren, so it really messed my Christmas up," he said.
Ian said he thought the hole was part of some roadworks on the busy road.
"I've reported it, because my accident could have been much worse. I was lucky to get off so lightly."
A spokesman for the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the A5, said that due to the Christmas holidays it was impossible to say whether the issue was known about or whether it was being dealt with.
Comments
by Red_Ned
Thursday, January 03 2013, 12:53PM
“I really don't think this is necessarily an example of people deliberately ignoring someone in need. To begin with even Mr Hughes concedes his memory of the event is 'blurry', so we don't really know how long it was before someone stopped. Secodnly, it may not have been at all apparent that he was injured. Not only have I seen cyclists lying on the verge in the past, I have myself after a particularly tough hill!
I know that the Mercury (and most of the commenteers here) want to think that the country is going to hell in a handcart but the fact is someone did stop and thanks to modern technology was able to summon help quickly from a (still) free-at-source health service. Sounds like a pretty good place to live to me.”
by rhino
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 5:37PM
“Never mind about the ifs and buts of the MOTORISTS what about this poor gentleman completly ignored by the I'M ALRIGHT JACK society we now live in!!!!”
by rhino
Monday, December 31 2012, 6:57PM
“stigman.
Are you advocating making a cycle lane down all the motorways of this country then.
Get real , what about country lanes and roads, the traditional route for cyclists, l suppose you go barreling into blind bends at 60mph!!!!”
by daveb0360
Monday, December 31 2012, 1:37PM
“As usual, the LM lost the plot and got the storyline wrong. My headline would have been 8" DEEP POTHOLE HOSPITALISES RETIRED CYCLIST"”
by daveb0360
Monday, December 31 2012, 1:34PM
“Since the pothole caused the incident, I would urge Mr Hughes to put in a claim for personal injury to the council, they should have insurance for such incidents. Doesn't help the wound heal but it may help get some dangerous potholes filled.........possibly properly!? or is that asking too much..:-/”
by rhino
Sunday, December 30 2012, 5:04PM
“stigman.
Once again cyclists are perfectly entitled to use any road in the country except mortorways where all the lunatics go on anyway most of them cruising at 80mph and feeling legally entitled to do so.
My point is and always will be what ever the speed limit may be 20/30/40/50/60/70 is is NOT compulsery to drive at these speeds without slowing down now and then to COMPLY with the conditions that prevail.WHY should the cyclist need to have special provsions made for them because you lot want to go hell for leather.
Athough this is most welcome where provided but it must cost a lot of money.
Motoring speeds in this country need to come down not go up, WHY is everone in such a mad rush to get to the grave or in a lot of circumstances send inocent people there like the police are doing chasing someone whos pinched an old banger worth nothing.”
by DonHenson
Sunday, December 30 2012, 5:51AM
“Leaving aside an unusually clear memory for one that is "blurry", how about a little understanding for motorists in an open setting? There have been many examples of car-jacking by unscrupulous individuals appearing to be victims of an accident.
Not an excuse, but something we all have to be aware of.”
by unbiased
Saturday, December 29 2012, 11:12PM
“There really is no hope for us!”
by Scottmason
Saturday, December 29 2012, 10:32PM
“What is wrong with people ? selfish Britian strikes again!”
by Stigman
Saturday, December 29 2012, 8:24PM
“As we should do Rhino. Drivers who don't drive to the conditions don't last long. But you don't want to be in the way of those who don't. You might be the fatality that gets them banned. I repeat once again, competing with fast moving heavy metal on a bike is suicidal. It is not our mission to slow them down to cycling pace. I cycle for fitness and transport. Not to compete with a pea shooter against a machine gun. Some cyclists have an agenda, and it is all about trying to use their weak position to dominate the road. It is utterly ridiculous, because they can't win and could get killed. Best to shame the authorities into providing proper routes for cyclists.”