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72-year-old cycled home from hit and run with broken ribs and fractured hip

“The trick is not to stop because once you do, then that’s it – everything shuts down”

A 72-year-old Cheltenham cyclist rode nine miles home with four broken ribs, a fractured hip and a head injury after suffering a hit and run. Doug Gale, who is now being monitored in hospital, has appealed for the driver to come forward.

Gloucestershire Live reports that the collision occurred on Gupshill roundabout on the edge of Tewkesbury at around 11 am on Wednesday, February 5.

Gale was returning home from a 60-mile ride, wearing bright yellow, when a driver pulled out, boxing him in on the roundabout and preventing him from taking his exit. The motorist hit him and knocked him off.

“I was left in the road feeling pretty dazed and bewildered but they just drove off,” said Gale.

“Eventually I got up and a woman who had stopped suggested I got off the road. I made it to the side of the road and collected myself a bit.

“She wanted me to stay because I had a hole in my head which was bleeding but I said ‘no’ because I just wanted to get away from there."

After riding home, his wife drove him to Cheltenham General Hospital. A CT scan at Cheltenham detected a small brain bleed from his head wound and he is currently being monitored at Gloucestershire Royal.

“I suppose it was shock but the adrenaline kicked in and I got back on the bike and did nine miles home,” he said.

“The trick is not to stop because once you do, then that’s it – everything shuts down. Once I got home I really knew about it. It was very painful and I knew my hip was fractured.”

Doctors say Gale won’t be able to ride for around six weeks and that he will be in pain for quite some time.

Gloucestershire police believe the motorist was driving a black car and they would also like to speak to a woman in a grey pick-up type vehicle who stopped to help.

A spokesperson said: "Officers would like this woman, and anyone else who stopped at the scene, to contact police as they may have information which could help the investigation.

"The woman who helped, or any witnesses who have information about the collision or who have dashcam footage, are asked to call police on 101 and quote incident 379 of February 5."

Information can also be submitted to Gloucestershire police online through the 'update a crime report' form or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“His conscience must be troubling him because he just shot off,” said Gale. I can’t see how he couldn’t have known.

"I don’t know why he didn’t stop but he needs to contact police now. He’s already missed the deadline for the 24 hour period you get to report an accident to police.

“I’m hoping somebody comes forward to shed more light on it.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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12 comments

Avatar
kt26 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Can attest to the power of addrenaline. Last august I was trying to get my wife into cycling, needless to say I failed after a mishap had us both on the floor. When I went to get up I felt a clicking in my shoulder and was very aware something was broken, my wife was still in shock over the incident. Concious I was about to become very useless when the addrenaline subsided I manager to get both bikes off the road and help her off.

After I went completely white and felt utterly drained and any movement in the arm or shoulder now resulted in severe pain - the result was a broken collarbone.

That said I am still very impressed he managed to ride 9 miles after. That is a long time to keep the addrenaline going for.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
2 likes

No where near as seriously injured as Doug, but when I was knocked off by an Hit and Drive offer in a similar manner, I cycled the 5 miles to work with Cracked Ribs, showered, got changed and then asked a colleague to take me to hospital and then the Police Station to report it.

The Adrenaline can make a difference although I also expect he is like alot of OAPs where they don't want to cause a fuss and suspect the wife made him go. 

Avatar
danhopgood | 4 years ago
11 likes

The starting point in the current UK sentencing guidelines for an incident involving "moderate damage/injury failed to stop & failed to report " is a fine - no points.

Our society, it appears, is morally bankrupt too and so hit and runners - lots of -em, don't report. 

Regaining a society with a concience would be nice, but failing that, meaningful penalties for all motoring offences are what's needed.

  

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to danhopgood | 4 years ago
4 likes

No need to worry, the government review of road offences and sentencing will be along any minute; it's only been seven years since it was announced.

Avatar
Hirsute | 4 years ago
5 likes

The trick is to get an ambulance and get your head injury checked out immediately because you don't want the risk of brain bleed.

Avatar
Xena | 4 years ago
1 like

I got hit by a fast squirrel. I had a  major penis fracture. This is the sort thing that can happen if you not wearing a helmet . About time they brought in facial recognition and intimate strip searching.  

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Xena | 4 years ago
8 likes

Time to lay off the weed.

Avatar
Crashboy replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
7 likes

hirsute wrote:

Time to lay off the weed.

 

I agree but:... 

 

Also time for the moderator / admin on this forum to disable this user's account and delete the pointless, rude and offensive comment.  

 

"Xena"'s not yours...!

Avatar
ktache replied to Crashboy | 4 years ago
2 likes

Could not agree more!

Avatar
Xena replied to Crashboy | 4 years ago
0 likes

Also time for the moderator / admin on this forum to disable this user's account and delete the pointless, rude and offensive

[/quote]

Rude offensive pointless , yeah that's it get someone banned.

"your a fucking dick" . Now you have my permission to get me banned 

 

 

Avatar
Xena replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

Don't smoke anything ,infact I'm fit as fuck . Lift weights most days and out on my bike hitting the hills of north London 3 /4 times a week . Look more like a body builder than cyclist .  Oh yeah get a sense of humour , That  goes for the other comments below as well

It's people like you that makes it absolutely necessary  for facial recognition and intimate strip searches . 
 

Avatar
Sevenfold | 4 years ago
2 likes

Having fractured the neck of my femur #NOF having been forced off the road by a BMW (no reg. so did not report) despite 2 high power front lights & hi-viz jacket, I could not even get back on the bike to ride it the 2 miles home. Chapeau sir.

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