Hit and run driver 'left me for dead'

Paul Yates, 52, suffered shoulder, neck, head and wrist injuries and also lost two teeth when a black, E-registered Ford Sierra hit his bike head-on.

The keen cyclist has spent a week being treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and expects to be on sick leave from his job with Red Watch at Darwen Fire Station for at least six weeks. He is to undergo a brain scan later this week.

"I feel very lucky and glad to be alive. If I hadn't been wearing my cycle helmet I wouldn't be here today," said Mr Yates, who lives at Sunnyhurst Post Office, Sunnyhurst Lane, Darwen, with his postmistress wife, Janice.

"I saw the car coming towards me on the wrong side of the road. I don't remember much about being hit, but I went over the windscreen and ended up on the pavement, covered in glass."

He added: "The driver basically left me for dead. Obviously I want the person responsible brought to justice. I mean, what sort of person does that?

"I'm still in quite a bad way. I'm going to need physiotherapy and I'm suffering from double vision because a nerve in the back of my eye was damaged. "I would like to thank the people who saw what happened and came to help me."

Police are investigating the incident which happened in Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, at 7.15am on Saturday, March 20.

The car, which was being driven by a dark haired man, had been customised to look like a Ford Cosworth. Part of the registration plate, number E409 BNO, dropped off during the collision.

PC Simon Bolton from the Lancashire police road safety unit said: "The accident is being treated as a hit and run. The driver obviously knew he had hit somebody. He even slowed down to look before driving off.

"We are still trying to trace the car and its owner and want to hear from anybody with information which could help our inquiry."

PC Bolton can be contacted on 01254 382141.

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