Appeal after 15-year-old cyclist knocked down in Mountdale Gardens, Leigh

8:30am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Emma Thomas

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy was left bleeding by the side of the road after a hit and run driver crashed into him.

Ben Cockrill was heading home after being allowed out early from Southend High School for Boys when the incident happened in Mountdale Gardens, Leigh.

At 3.20pm, he was cycling up the hill when he was overtaken and struck from behind - sending him flying into a parked car at about 20mph.

The impact caused him to break the wingmirror off the parked car and he suffered cuts, bruises and a concussion.

Mum Carol, of Belgrave Road, Leigh, said Ben was a competent cyclist who had been left shaken by the crash.

She said: “He is a very able and careful cyclist. He has been cycling for years, he does 50 miles on a Saturday.

“The front wheel of Ben’s bike is completely buckled. The driver must have known he hit someone because there would have been a noise.”

Families walked past Ben as he was sitting on the road with his crumpled bike and didn’t stop to ask if he was alright but a young man, in his Twenties, came over to help.

He phoned his mum who rushed down and took him straight to Southend Hospital A&E.

Mrs Cockrill, 51, said an earlier injury, caused when Ben fell from a pole vault when he was in Year 7 at school, may have been exacerbated by the impact of the crash even though he was wearing a helmet.

She said: “He hasn’t broken anything but he isn’t great, he had a brain injury a few years ago and he has got concussion and a really bad headache.”

Mrs Cockrill and her husband, Gary, thanked the passer-by who stopped to see if Ben was ok and a neighbour in Mountdale Gardens who took in the damaged bike while he was taken to hospital.

The police are asking for anyone with information about the crash, which happened on Friday, September 28, to call officers on 101.
 

Comments (4)

4:44pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Keptquiettillnow says...

Hope he makes a good recovery and it isnt to long before he is back on two wheels.
As for the motorist, to hit someone and drive away, should lose his/her licence for that. No excuses.
And Southend Council, where is the safe streets for cycling you promised us four or five years ago?
Hope he makes a good recovery and it isnt to long before he is back on two wheels. As for the motorist, to hit someone and drive away, should lose his/her licence for that. No excuses. And Southend Council, where is the safe streets for cycling you promised us four or five years ago? Keptquiettillnow

11:37pm Fri 5 Oct 12

aduksquack says...

Where is the £6 million SBC had to improve cycling in Southend?
Where is the £6 million SBC had to improve cycling in Southend? aduksquack

1:27pm Sun 7 Oct 12

Francis Grubb says...

Where did the money go? On a series of poorly-thought out and sometimes even dangerous cycle lanes.

Has any of our councillors ever ridden on these cycle lanes? I strongly suspect not.

Frank
Where did the money go? On a series of poorly-thought out and sometimes even dangerous cycle lanes. Has any of our councillors ever ridden on these cycle lanes? I strongly suspect not. Frank Francis Grubb

1:30pm Sun 7 Oct 12

Francis Grubb says...

Regarding this incident, I hope poor Ben recovers and isn't put off cycling by this.

As for the driver, I hope he/she does the right thing and comes forward.

Frank
Regarding this incident, I hope poor Ben recovers and isn't put off cycling by this. As for the driver, I hope he/she does the right thing and comes forward. Frank Francis Grubb

Comments are closed on this article.

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