Accident victim's bike stolen as he lay injured
WHEN Glenn Hawkins lay injured after a serious accident in Bristol city centre, the last thing he was expecting was to become a victim of crime.
But that's exactly what happened when a man posing as a good Samaritan offered to move Mr Hawkins' expensive motorbike – but stole it instead.
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Glenn Hawkins' bike
Mr Hawkins broke a collar bone, punctured a lung and cracked two ribs when a cyclist rode out in front of him on Bond Street.
To make matters worse, as he lay injured a passer-by pretended to lend a hand by moving Mr Hawkins' beloved £8,000 Kawasaki, which still had the keys in the ignition, before riding off.
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Construction manager Mr Hawkins, 35, was on his way to get the 600cc machine serviced and was driving away from St James Barton roundabout towards the M32, in the bus lane, at about 10.30am last Wednesday.
As he came alongside Cabot Circus, the other lanes of the road were busy with traffic.
Despite the lights at a pedestrian crossing being green for vehicles and red for pedestrians, a cyclist crossed the road and Mr Hawkins was unable to avoid a collision.
Speaking yesterday from his hospital bed, Mr Hawkins told the Post: "I came off my bike and skidded along the road. When I got up I said 'Where's my bike?' and I was told someone had stolen it.
"I was pretty annoyed, and that's putting it lightly.
"If I had got hold of him, he would have ended up in the hospital bed next to me.
"Now I just want to get my bike back. If anyone sees it, or the thief who stole it, I would really appreciate it if they called the police as soon as possible."
Mr Hawkins, of Clarendon Road, Redland, has been riding bikes since he was a teenager.
He bought the bike – a green and black Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R – about a month ago for £8,000.
He was so proud of his bike, registration WM12 KKH, that he captioned a picture of it on social networking site Facebook as "my baby".
Mr Hawkins spent five days in the Bristol Royal Infirmary, including his birthday, has already missed almost a week of work, and is expecting to be off for another fortnight at least while his broken bones heal.
Mr Hawkins added: "I might need physio and more treatment, so I don't know when I'll be able to ride a motorbike again."
As well as the broken bones, Mr Hawkins had to have four stitches in his left leg and suffered painful friction burns.
The cyclist escaped uninjured, but was shaken up.
Avon and Somerset police spokesman Martin Dunscombe said: "While Mr Hawkins was being treated, someone offered to help move his motorcycle out of the way and then rode off on it in the direction of Portland Square.
"The suspect is described as a black man with a stocky build and wearing a black and white hooded top.
"Despite an extensive search of the area by local response officers, the stolen motorbike was not located.
"Other enquiries, including the examination of CCTV, are underway to identify the person responsible and return the bike to the owner."
Anyone with information on the incident should contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101, quoting reference 83651/12.
Comments
by a_can_of_bees
Friday, August 10 2012, 2:16AM
“@ GrumbleDuke
Don't be confused. This was reported by the BEP so facts will not be readily available. They want to give as few as possible so that all the cycle hating crowd can join up whatever dots they like.
Until someone can actually tell me where this event happened on that stretch of road, there is nothing much to say about it. If I understand correctly, the stretch reported by the BEP has two sets of lights, each completely different. Was it the one opposite the McDonald's or the other one opposite the final edge of the Carboot Circus complex (I forget which mundane shop faces onto it)?”
by KBillies
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 8:21PM
“Take no notice of people bashing cyclists.”
by vrtsl36g
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 11:18AM
“Very unfortunate incident. Not least because in my experience motor cyclists always ride in a very defensive manner and never at more than the speed limit. That's what makes this accident all the more surprising.”
by GrumbleDuke
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 8:53AM
“I hope Glenn recovers quickly and gets his bike back.
I'm a bit confused - the story says the other lanes where busy with traffic yet the cyclist still rode out into this? It says Glenn was 'in the bus lane' but there is no bus lane on Newfoundland Road from St. James Barton head toward M32? There is a cycle lane.
It says 'the cyclist escaped injury but was shaken up', so they must have stopped yes?
However don't let the facts stop you lot having your little rants ;-)”
by DM_Fishponds
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 8:51AM
“Bristol City Council and local cyclists are desperate that cycling is respected as a valid form of transport across the city and further afield.
Recently the people of Bristol have 'invested' £22.8 million, via the council, on what some regard as a minority sport.
If cyclists want to be taken seriously they need to accept that the Highway Code is there for the safety and benefit of everyone. Driving on pavements, jumping red lights, going the wrong way down one-way streets are all quite unacceptable in a motor vehicle. To be taken seriously cyclists need to realize that it is unacceptable for them to do the same.
If cyclists want to be considered and accepted as a serious form of transport then they need to demonstrate that they can follow the same rules as everyone else.
And before everyone starts replying that motor vehicles break the law as often as bikes, I agree. The Police and the council need to treat all road users the same.”
by KA12345
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 9:50PM
“Ok, so this guy is currently lying in hospital with a broken collar bone, punctured lung and two cracked ribs...... he'll be off work for expected 3 weeks in total and still have treatment and physio appointments after to attend which will mean more time off work.
All of this due to the cyclist riding dangerously..... I'm disgusted.
I'm even more disgusted as I don't know whether this story would've made the headlines had the poor bloke not had his bike stolen!!!!
Fact - If a car had jumped the red light and caused the accident, the driver would be up in court facing points/fine/possible ban/possible civil action.
Questions...
* Police - What is your policy on cracking down on cyclists riding dangerously/carelessly?????
* BCC - With all your recent measures aimed at the motorist (blanket 20mph limit, traffic calming schemes etc etc), what are you doing to ensure cyclists are riding carefully & responsibly??”
by NotTheCouncil
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 9:00PM
“Just to update you on Not The Councils official status on this event:
Jon Rogers - I'm afraid can't comment. He is still trying to decide how to convince votes to vote for him as major after he campaigned and voted against having a major. He's hoping the voting community have a short memory.
Tim Kent - I'm afraid can't comment. He is still campaigning against a major. Unfortunately no one has had the heart to tell him Bristol wants one and he will be out of a job come the election. At least it keeps him away from creating congestion for a month or two.
Bristol City Spokesperson - Unfortunately they lost their card with all the stock answers usually given so won't be commenting.
Gary Hopkins - Shouted something. We couldn't make it out.
Sustrans - We couldn't pull their head out of the sand in order to hear what they said.”
by HarveyNix
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 8:36PM
“Mr.Hawkins said "thanks to all the BEP readers for their messages of support while I recovered from this accident"
F ** k tards”
by a_can_of_bees
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 7:24PM
“by TeabagTerryTuesday, August 7 2012, 10:18AM
"How did this black man drive away on the bike without a crash helmet? Surely he would have been stopped by the police?"
And his colour has what relevance in this context?”
by DM_Fishponds
Tuesday, August 07 2012, 7:18PM
“@Erinaceus - "In a Cycling City, is it permissible to admit that a cyclist was in the wrong?"
This is a very good question. Which should be answered by the current Executive Member for Transport (Tim Kent), all the 'Mayoral-wannabes' (inc. Jon Rogers) and Kate Hartas (spokes person for Bristol City Council).
I would also like them to give us their opinion on some cyclists in Bristol ignoring red lights? And the £22.8 million the council has recently spent on making Bristol a 'Cycling City'?
As a clue, the 'laws of the land' apply to Bristol as well. However we have evidence of Bristol City Council influencing the Police's opinion of certain local transport issues recently. So it would be very interesting to hear BCC's policy and it may influence the forthcoming elections!”