Cyclist suffers serious head injuries after collision with runner racing in London Park

A cyclist is in hospital with serious head injuries after colliding with a runner thought to be taking part in a a race in Greenwich Park in London.

The female cyclist, aged in her 20s, was airlifted to hospital yesterday morning following the collision. The runner did not need any hospital treatment.

The crash took place as the Greenwich Park Tough Run event was held, with runners choosing either a 5k or 10k route.

A spokeswoman for the London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 10.35am this morning to a road traffic collision at Greenwich Park involving a cyclist and a pedestrian.

“We sent three ambulance crews to the scene and London’s Air Ambulance.

“We treated one woman, reported to be in her 20s, for a serious head injury and a shoulder injury.

“She was taken to the Royal London Hospital as a priority in the air ambulance.”

There is no speed limit for cyclists in London’s Royal Parks, the organisation recently told the BBC.

In a statement it said that “there is no legal speed limit for cyclists in Hyde Park,” but cyclists were requested to adhere to the 5mph speed limit that applies to motorists, “even though [for bike riders] it is not a legal limit.”

Royal Parks also pointed out that “a criminal offence occurs when someone intentionally or recklessly interferes with the safety … of any person.”