Woman fighting for life after 'e-bike' hit-and-run in east London

[Nealh]

What the footage does show is little or no scant concern for the lady laying in crumpled heap in the road, the guy was more bothered about his buckled/bent front wheel.
Had he stayed put offered help showing a degree of concern then there most likely would have been no case to answer following an investigation.

 

[EddiePJ]

Won't necessarily have a 'reason'.

People react differently to different situations and it's all to easy to sit at a keyboard, analyse and give opinions.

Fortunately few of us have been in a similar situation to the rider in this case and none in exactly the same situation.

Very true, and sadly for me, I was put in a similar situation in my teen years whilst riding a motorcycle. I hit a pedestrian and pretty much broke every bone in her body, and in trying to avoid her, hit two cars that were coming in the opposite direction. I ended up on a pavement somehow having stayed on the bike. My first split second reaction was to run, not least because of the crowds of people that suddenly seemed to appear. I didn't and instead just dropped the motorcycle and ran to help.
I truly don't know if I would have handled things differently, had it not been for the fact that my best friend at the time, had been killed by a hit and run driver just months previously. It was the recollection of that, and the impact of what followed, that rooted me to the ground. I have had to deal with the fact that I was involved in an accident that basically killed someone, and had I ran, I know that I couldn't have dealt with it. A clear conscience is bad enough.

I was found not to be guilty of any offence as the pedestrian had been drinking and stepped out from nowhere. It was still over five years of hell for me and I'd dearly love to be able to turn back the clock, or even swap places with the pedestrian. I have pretty much spent my whole life since, stupidly punishing myself, and it has has only been the last few that I came to the conclusion of why?

 

[LeighPing]

Let's not forget that this man was caused to sustain a head injury. That he is the innocent party in this collision. Who knows what he was thinking, feeling, hallucinating at the time. Perhaps he was rushing to the hospital. Clearly there would have been shock.. Not guilty.

 

[Wander]

My first split second reaction was to run, ....

Exactly!
It's the classic fight-or-flight response. Adrenalin pumping, possibly hurt, perceived danger, physiological and physchological stress.
Yes we all know that the individual in the present case should have stayed and assisted the poor lady (as EddiePJ did in his incident) but NONE of us can guarantee that we would do so.

 

[flecc]

What the footage does show is little or no scant concern for the lady laying in crumpled heap in the road, the guy was more bothered about his buckled/bent front wheel.
Had he stayed put offered help showing a degree of concern then there most likely would have been no case to answer following an investigation.

Panic does cause irrational reactions though and there are numerous instances of innocent people fleeing such incidents. The more serious the accident, the more likely it is to induce panic.

He did hand himself in to the police later once he resumed thinking rationally.
.

 

[daveboy]

As for running away after a accident, a mate of mine crashed his motorbike
through a fence, got up and ran off (Bike was all legal) we had to chase him
to catch him and when we asked him why he had run off he didn't know.
The thing was it turned out he was very seriously injured and spent 6 weeks
in hospital.

 

[Amoto65]

Agree with all the above, do we know if the Ebike was legal? as that will make a difference.

 

[Benjahmin]

Shock does strange things to ones reasoning power, as said, people often wander of from accident scenes when injured.
It almost looks as though the woman tries to commit suicide by cyclist, the way she accelerates. It will be a grave miscarriage of justice if this chap gets charged with anything other than failing to report an accident.

 

[Wander]

....... charged with anything other than failing to report an accident.

Don't think an EAPC falls within the definition of a "mechanically propelled vehicle" for the requirement under S170 RTA 1988.

 

[anotherkiwi]

The bike has been named as a Specialised, let's hope it wasn't an unregistered S class Turbo Vado...

 

[Gubbins]

One thing will certainly surface, any suggestions of illegality of the bike... so far it's looking like no one is even considering it.

 

[flecc]

Don't think an EAPC falls within the definition of a "mechanically propelled vehicle" for the requirement under S170 RTA 1988.

Indeed, I raised the problem of an e-bike's status in respect of an accident on an adjacent thread.

If charges are necessary, it may have to come down to using ancient cycling laws yet again, or possibly relying on laws that apply to us all, such as causing actual/grievous bodily harm.
.

 

[Gubbins]

Indeed, I raised the problem of an e-bike's status in respect of an accident on an adjacent thread.

If charges are necessary, it may have to come down to using ancient cycling laws yet again, or possibly relying on laws that apply to us all, such as causing actual/grievous bodily harm.
.

Yes but by who to who? One could easily argue that the pedestrian caused injury to the cyclist.... a bit like picking a fight with bouncer and coming of worst.

 

[oldtom]

the video shows how clearly she was at fault and the cyclist's speed reasonable

I would certainly agree that the woman was reckless, running out on to a busy road thus endangering both herself and other road users.

Having said that, I have run the clip stop-start, stop-start several times and it is clear that the cyclist was going at a fair rate of knots when he collided with the female. I say that, making comparison with the the bicycle that preceded him in the clip and the speed of the cars.

Now, I don't suppose there is any way to accurately measure the speed but I don't quite understand why the cyclist was unable to see the woman and take at least some avoiding action - I accept that he was not expecting someone to cross his path in that fashion but I question any cyclist's ability to stop suddenly in busy London traffic if riding fast. Much like being a pedestrian in town, riding in traffic anywhere requires a high degree of both observation and concentration and neither the cyclist nor the lady displayed much of either in this case.

It's a difficult one to assess correctly but my thoughts go out to the woman who was seriously injured and to her family, regardless of fault.

Tom

 

[flecc]

Yes but by who to who? One could easily argue that the pedestrian caused injury to the cyclist.... a bit like picking a fight with bouncer and coming of worst.

Indeed, and why I said "If" charges are necessary, meaning in respect of the cyclist. Frankly I can't see that he is to blame in any way, it's perfectly normal for cyclists to keep to surrounding traffic speeds in town, whether e-assisted or not.

The woman's liability if any is normally a civil matter.
.

 

[EddiePJ]

It may be a Specialized factory made ebike.

However, those describing it for the report will not be experts, so it could be a Specialized push bike that's been converted,

To me it looks like a converted Rockhopper.

 

[RobF]

To me it looks like a converted Rockhopper.

Having now seen the CCTV, I agree it looks like a hub conversion.

My view is he was cracking on at a fair lick, suggesting the bike was at least derestricted.

Leaving aside the legality of propulsion, I reckon there's a case for wanton and furious cycling.

It is starting to mirror the Alliston case, which started out that way until the pedestrian he hit - who was also jaywalking - died.

Let's hope - for lots of reasons - the pedestrian in this case makes a good recovery.

 

[TedG]

Bear with me guys.
This incident takes me right back to "my" monster thread regarding e-bikes in N.Ireland and the fact that they are currently banned because of a technicality.
If a similar accident (please no) occured here I believe it would be so much worse for the cyclist as he would be riding a "vehicle??" on a public road without insurance, registration and possibly licence leaving him open to a personal litigation claim and as "accidents can happen" this was the primary reason why we are still struggling on our Bromptons.

Just my opinion of course but this case looks tricky and would be a nightmare should it happen here.

Reprimand or correct me as necessary.

 

[TedG]

Let's hope - for lots of reasons - the pedestrian in this case makes a good recovery.

Agreed.

 

[Gubbins]

Bear with me guys.
This incident takes me right back to "my" monster thread regarding e-bikes in N.Ireland and the fact that they are currently banned because of a technicality.
If a similar accident (please no) occured here I believe it would be so much worse for the cyclist as he would be riding a "vehicle??" on a public road without insurance, registration and possibly licence leaving him open to a personal litigation claim and as "accidents can happen" this was the primary reason why we are still struggling on our Bromptons.

Just my opinion of course but this case looks tricky and would be a nightmare should it happen here.

Reprimand or correct me as necessary.

The riding without insurance thing is worth a debate, perhaps on a seperate thread.. Riding a bike has moved on on a bit since the early days of bicycling with your three speed Sturmey Archer gears, and with the roads becoming more congested and road rage becoming commonplace, a simple ride to the off licence is more hazardous than ever so it seems to me that having some sort of insurance has become a necessity. I have public liability insurance included in my bike insurance which I am assuming will help me if I were to be involved in an accident such as this but I wonder how many just don't bother, and with an electric bike being so much more than a pavement cycle is there an case for compulsory insurance of one sort or another?
Public liability insurance is included in my insurance , but on its own it isn't expensive.. in fact I came across one last year for £25, which is a small amount of money to pay for a bit of peace of mind...
Unless of course I am completely wrong here and my "Public Liability" insurance is not what I think it is!