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Young cyclist suffers brain damage after being struck by driver and landing on another car

Doctors told the 20-year-old's family it was 'the worst brain injury' they had ever seen...

A cyclist suffered 'life changing' brain damage after being knocked down by a motorist and landing on the bonnet of another car. 

Tom Harris, from Bristol, spent five days in a medically induced coma after the collision.

The Bristol Post report that doctors told the 20-year-old’s family he had a 10 per cent chance of survival and was living 'minute to minute' with 'the worst brain injury they had ever seen'.

He has since woken but is struggling to form words and his family have now launched a fundraising page to help support his recovery. 

So far they have raised nearly £3,500. 

His dad, Rich, 47, described Tom as a 'very sociable cheeky chappie' who was cycling to a job interview when the crash happened.

The family say they have been told that Tom had been riding on his bike, crossing the  A4174 on March 9, a six-lane dual carriageway, when a car hit him.

They have raised questions and concerns about the layout of the junction which has been subject to an 'experimental' traffic order.

The force of the collision threw Tom onto the bonnet of the car behind, and then onto a third car, says Rich.

Rich said when police turned up at the family’s home, they told him: “Your son probably won’t make it.”

He added: “We didn’t know what we were doing. We were trying to ring up family. It was frightening.

“By the time we got to Southmead Hospital, the critical care team had sedated and anaesthetised him.

"He was in a medically induced coma for five days before the ventilation tube came out and they lowered the sedation.

“The doctor told us there was a 10 per cent chance he would survive. My wife went in and saw him, gave him a kiss.

“I didn’t want to go in. I said to the doctors he would wake up. I knew him. I just knew. They said it might not happen, but I told them, ‘No, it will.’"

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Tom had an operation to release the pressure on his brain, which has now subsided.

Rich continued: “He’s definitely going to have brain damage, and damage to the left side of his body."

Thomas has four brothers and two sisters, but his family have not visited him in hospital due to Covid regulations, other than the visit his parents made on the day of the crash.

He added: “He remembers how to use colourful language. There is hope. The use of his body he has still got, apart from his left hand side which is a bit slower. His speech is really slow."

Rich says a fellow Bristol Rovers fan who witnessed the crash described it has 'the most horrific thing he’d ever seen in his life'.

The extent of the long-term damage is still unknown, though it will certainly be life-changing. 

Rich added: “Tom’s a family person. He loves Christmas and all that. He loves going to the football home and away. He has a lot of friends – he’s the life and soul, always happy and laughing.”

In August 2019, South Gloucestershire Council restricted movement of motorists at the Hambrook traffic lights in a bid to improve air quality.

The changes also saw a bus lane removed for a third lane of traffic – the lane Rich says his son was hit on.

Rich questioned why the 18-month trial was still ongoing when the collision took place, having been scheduled to end the previous month.

He believes the crash may not have happened if the changes had been reversed.

A council spokesman said: “We were saddened to hear of this serious incident on the A4174 and our thoughts are with the individual involved. We are aware that a police investigation is currently in progress and we will review their findings fully once they have been shared with us.

“We were required by Government to implement an Experimental Traffic Order at Hambrook traffic lights on the A4174 to improve air quality in the area.

“Since then, our monitoring data of NO2 levels has been significantly impacted due to Covid-19 restrictions resulting in less traffic on our roads. Because of this we are seeking guidance from the Joint Air Quality Unit as to the way forward with the scheme.”

Rich said police have told the family a criminal investigation into the crash is underway.

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9 comments

Avatar
Tired of the tr... | 2 years ago
5 likes

This is terrible and I wish Tom a good recovery.

Looking at the road layout would be interesting and useful for avoiding similar incidents in future. If I understand correctly, the family does blame the road layout and recent changes, but it is not really clear in the report what was changed and why.

So they removed a bus lane. But what does the other change, "Council restricted movement of motorists at the Hambrook traffic lights in a bid to improve air quality", actually mean?

Is this "improve air quality" argument just a smokesceen for "make motor traffic faster"? Were there any measures to improve safety at the same time?

 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Tired of the trolls here and gone cycling instead | 2 years ago
2 likes

I'm pretty sure we touched on this incident on here as I remember the Bristol Live post about the traffic holdup at the time. At the time we assumed he was cycling along the road away from the M32 in which case the bus lane would have given him some safety. However now the parents have said he was trying to cross the six lanes of traffic when he was hit. So I don't see how a bus lane would have made any difference in that case (unless he had left the pavement into it not realising it was in use for cars). 

Edit: The actual changes seem to be no right turn for any of the four roads and no straight on for the two "minor" roads joining, only left turns allowed on those. 

 

Avatar
Tired of the tr... replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
2 likes

Thank you. I missed the earlier discussions.

It looks like a horrible junction and I hope the council investigates this incident in detail with a view of making it safer.

Avatar
Projectcyclingf... | 2 years ago
3 likes

What of the motorist that caused the collision causing such serious harm to the poor victim ?
Were they impared, distracted or other?
Are they still permitted to drive and potentially posing a risk to more vulnerble groups?

Avatar
Sriracha replied to Projectcyclingfitness | 2 years ago
4 likes

There is not really anything in the article to apportion blame. I don't think with the information given it is appropriate to speculate. The police enquiry of course may shed more light on things.

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hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
5 likes

Best wishes to him and his family.

I had a little look at his fundraiser and it was heartening to see lots of good wishes from Bristol City and Rovers fans.

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eburtthebike | 2 years ago
6 likes

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.  I know that junction well, and to call it a complete clusterfuck is a compliment.

Avatar
ktache | 2 years ago
13 likes

Good luck Tom.

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M20MAMIL replied to ktache | 2 years ago
2 likes

I'll second that. 🤞

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