Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

10 riders hospitalised, with one in induced coma, after crash with police motorbike at Australian race

Officer had reportedly stopped to prevent a motorist from encroaching on course of National Road Series event

10 riders were taken to hospital – with one placed in an induced coma – after crashing into a police motorcycle at a National Road Series race in Australia.

The incident happened on the opening lap of the men’s race – the final event of this year’s series – at Farrant’s Hill, New South Wales, reports SBS.

The broadcaster says that the peloton, strung out in single file due to crosswinds, was travelling at an estimate 55-60 kilometres an hour as riders came round a near-blind bend and encountered the motorcycle, which was parked up on the left-hand side of the road, but not off it.

The officer, who himself sustained an arm injury in the crash, had reportedly stopped to prevent a vehicle from encroaching on the course, which comprised a 14-kilometre loop, after the driver apparently ignored an instruction to wait until the race had passed by.

Riders at the front of the bunch were able to avoid the motorbike, but those further back had less time to react with Cameron Scott of ARA-Pro Racing Sunshine Coast hitting the rear of the motorcycle, and a number of other riders also coming down.

The rider placed in an induced coma after being airlifted to hospital was Ben Carman of Nero Continental, who sustained a broken tibia, broken fibula, and fractured patella.

Scott himself broke his pelvis in the crash, while Tom Chapman of Team Bridgelane sustained a fractured tibia. The remaining seven riders who came down were all taken to various hospitals to have their injuries assessed, but none sustained a fracture.

Race director Michael Crawley told 9News: “It was a very strong field of national riders. It’s a very unfortunate situation. Nobody likes to see anybody hurt.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider | 3 years ago
1 like

This is terrible news ;-(

I hope all injured will recover well and fast.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 3 years ago
0 likes

Induced Coma for Tibia and Fibia probably means a very serious compound fracture. But I echo your sentiments. 

Avatar
bertisfantastic replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes

induced coma wouldnt be for a fracture tib/fib. severe brain injury or due to the polytrauma nature of injuries. either way far from ideal. hope he gets well soon

Latest Comments