Cyclist left with broken back and potentially life-changing injuries after hit-and-run

John Bennett, 48, from Kimberworth was cycling on the B122 Naburn, North Yorkshire on Monday morning with his friend Martin Townsend when he was struck by a dark-coloured car travelling at around 40mph.

The car carried on at speed after the collision.

John, who is a member of Barnsley Road Club, said: “I saw the car go left straight into me and send me flying off my bike, which in turn knocked Martin off his bike.

“They definitely aimed for us, there was no reason for them to go left into us.”

Fortunately, another car pulled up behind the pair and an ambulance was called.

John said: “I went head first into the ground. Martin said I was screaming in pain.

“There was quite a bit of blood coming from my face, my glasses cut into the bridge of my nose.”

John was in so much pain he was unable to lie down in the ambulance on the way to York Hospital.

He added: “They gave me double morphine and it was still painful.

“I’ve broken a bone in my spine and Martin had bruised ribs and shoulders and a neck injury.

John now faces 12 weeks in a spinal brace with possible permanent damage to his back. He has been unable to sleep because of the pain.

He said: “The doctor said I could have severed my spinal cord and could have been permanently paralysed. I’m still struggling with the pain.”

Father-of-four John was also injured in another hit-and-run last year when a driver skipped a red light on Penistone Road North. On Wednesday another Yorkshire cycling club reported one of their members was ‘egged’ by a passing car driving at speed, which left the victim with an eye injury.

John added: “Since lockdown the total hatred towards cyclists has gone up another level.

“I’ve got kids and a wife and they would like to see me at the end of the day. I don’t want other families to lose their loved ones.”

Another cyclist managed to capture the driver’s number plate on their helmet camera, and police told John they planned to visit them regarding the incident.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage of this incident, which left a cyclist with serious injuries.

“The man was riding on the B1222 near Naburn with another cyclist, who suffered minor injuries. Police and ambulance attended the incident, which happened at around 10.45am on Monday.

“An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing. A dark-coloured vehicle may have been involved, and police are appealing for anyone who has information or dashcam footage of the incident to call 101 and select option 1, quoting reference 12200087038.”