'Hit-and-run driver left me in the road'
A CYCLIST says he was left for dead after a hit-and-run by a white van driver.
Bill Coatsworth, 48, was on his way to work when he was knocked across three lanes by a white van as he crossed the roundabout at Junction 3 of the M32 in St Pauls.
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As he lay in shock on the road unable to move, he watched in disbelief as the van slowed and then drove off.
The father-of-two broke his foot and damaged a shoulder in the incident on May 1.
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After spending some weeks in a wheelchair, he is now on crutches but was off work as an audio electrician at Uplands Car Parts in Cheltenham Road for five weeks.
His wife Lisa, 41, and children Georgia, 13, and Jamie, 15, have been helping him around their home in Broadfield Avenue, Kingswood, since the accident.
Mr Coatsworth told the Evening Post: "I was cycling into work on a Saturday, and it was quiet on the road and a lovely clear day.
"I was crossing the roundabout towards Lower Ashley Road and abiding by the laws of the road when I heard a loud 'vroom' behind me.
"I thought 'oh my God' and over my left-hand shoulder from the corner of my eye saw the van, and it hit me from behind.
"I remember my foot being hit by what I think was the bumper and it forced me to fall in towards it, and I hit my shoulder on the A-pillar of the van.
"I then had a bizarre feeling of flying through the air forever and coming to the floor with a bump.
"I had been flung from the inside lane to the middle lane. My bike was in the outside lane.
"I could not stand up and was facing the wrong direction but manoeuvred myself to see the van slow down and then leave.
"I was waving my arms like a mad man trying to alert people that I was lying in the road.
"Somebody stopped and told me to keep still, and somebody called the police and the ambulance.
"There is no way that he could not have seen me. I am not exactly a small bloke and practically hit his windscreen.
"It was quite possible that I could have been killed. He didn't bother to check on me, he didn't know if I was dead or alive.
"It has put me off cycling to work again. I even told my wife to hold fire on getting me a new bike for my birthday.
"The matter has been reported to police and there are cameras around that area so I'm hoping something can be done because the driver needs to be caught."
A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset police said: "We can confirm police were called at 8.20am to a fail to stop incident between a vehicle and cyclist at Lower Ashley Road on May 1.
"A man received a leg injury and was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary. Investigations are ongoing."
Anyone with any information should contact Avon and Somerset police on 0845 4567000.
Comments
by hannah©, bristol
Tuesday, June 15 2010, 7:51PM
“LMAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwUIntJnBRI”
by Will Pedal, Bristol
Monday, June 14 2010, 2:36PM
“I hope they catch the hit and run van man and give him a hefty sentance and a slap”
by Ashley Downs, Bristol
Monday, June 14 2010, 10:05AM
“There is now a sign up in the area "Car Collision" which is asking people to come forward about information about the white van driver or if anyone saw the incident.”
by get a life, bristol
Saturday, June 12 2010, 6:01AM
“so sorry "not that impressed Brizzle", that theres no mention for the Sam.Did not see this untill it was published.and i'm doing ok by the way in case you give a t055”
by not that impressed, Brizzle
Friday, June 11 2010, 10:03PM
“Just wanted to ask, did Mr Coatsworth have a head injury, as he seems to have forgotten about his 24 yr old daughter, which by my calculations is 3 children not 2.”
by Bristol Traffic, Bristol
Friday, June 11 2010, 6:32PM
“Of course the van driver didn't stop, he was in a hurry. Most white van drivers are -but that's OK, as they are doing important work, unlike cyclists who are clearly unimportant -or they wouldn't be cycling.
That said, we do think that sometimes van drivers are a bit of a hazard to other car owners, which is dangerous. Take this video
http://bristolcars.blogspot.com/2010/05/roundabout-work.html
The van, approaching the Arley Hill mini-roundabout from York Street, swerves into the left lane not to cut left into St Pauls, but to undertake all the cars waiting to turn right. At the end of the journey it turns right in front of them -from the left hand lane! Such drivers are not just a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists, they endanger people with nice cars. There's also the risk that the van isn't insured, though at least at askmid.com you can check this. In this case it was, so you'd probably get your money back if it turned over you while you pulled out. Assuming it stopped, of course.”
by 2 Radd, Nowumsayin
Friday, June 11 2010, 5:33PM
“Red, yer jokes're gilded awesomeness. You keep them zingers flowin' yo. Straight up G, you must work darn hard on them zingers. You an inspiration to us all, man, slavin' for your craft. Just thinkin a all that time you be spending in the computer chair, zinging em out. A boy as hardcore as you must wear out a pair of track suit bottoms every week! Keep them zingers flyin man I 'B' watching you! Word to the R to the Ed!”
by Bristol Escapee, Not Bristol - Ever Again
Friday, June 11 2010, 5:07PM
“Interesting that in over 80 so-called "comments" not one - not one - has mentioned the crime committed by the hit-and-run van driver. This suggests that to the typical Bristolian such life threatening behaviour is perfectly acceptable. This tells the world a lot about Bristol and its inhabitants. You all seem to forget that every childish comment is available to be viewed by anyone, anywhere in the world. It tells them that Bristol is proud to be the most backward, uneducated, uncivilized town in the most backward, uncivilized country in Europe. A laughing stock. I hope you are all pleased with yourselves.”
by Susan McHenry, Clifton
Friday, June 11 2010, 4:53PM
“What a surprise, another comments section of the BEP is turning into a slanging match.
When people realise they've lost an argument it's not uncommon for them to result to petty abuse, name calling or personal slights. This seems to apply to "red", so anyone that he / she / it has replied to recently can simply disregard the replies.
No doubt red will have some witty, insightful and intelligent come back to this comment too.
Not that I'll ever know because I don't intend to waste any more of my time here, and suggest that anyone reading this go and do something more useful too instead.”
by Red, Bristol
Friday, June 11 2010, 4:52PM
“There's not a lot that gets past you, eh, 'Mebbegemme'? I bet you're a 'wow' at Cluedo.........”