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Appeal as cyclist found seriously injured on Buttertubs Pass in North Yorkshire

Police trying to discover what happened to man found yesterday morning by passing motorist

North Yorkshire police have launched a witness appeal after a cyclist was found seriously injured yesterday on the Buttertubs Pass, which was used in last year's Tour de France.

Officers say the man, aged in his fifties and from Middlesbrough, was discovered lying in the road around three miles from Thwaite at 11.40am on Sunday 4 Ocotober.

He was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital, where his condition is described as serious.

According to police the cyclist had been travelling between Hawes and Muker. He was riding a silver Canyon bike and wearing a white helmet fluorescent yellow t-shirt and dark shorts.

Police are trying to estbalish hwo he came to fall from his bike and have asked anyone who saw him beforehand, or saw what happened, to contac the major collision investigation unit on 101 or via email at MCIT [at] northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference number 12150175659.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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24 comments

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nickminshull | 9 years ago
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I hope he recovers it's always terrible hearing these stories. Hopefully the police will get the info they need. I have been considering a camera when you read about these incidents it makes me want one

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nickminshull | 9 years ago
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I hope he recovers it's always terrible hearing these stories. Hopefully the police will get the info they need. I have been considering a camera when you read about these incidents it makes me want one

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nickminshull | 9 years ago
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I hope he recovers it's always terrible hearing these stories. Hopefully the police will get the info they need. I have been considering a camera when you read about these incidents it makes me want one

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Fifth Gear | 9 years ago
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This is one of the reasons I always use cameras when cycling.

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Ghisallo | 9 years ago
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Something similar happened to someone I know. He was found in the middle of a country road, unconscious. He had no idea what caused the accident until someone mentioned the word "dog" some hours later. Then he remembered the dog that jumped out at him from the side of the road, and apparently took out his front wheel.

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gazza_d replied to Ghisallo | 9 years ago
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Ghisallo wrote:

Something similar happened to someone I know. He was found in the middle of a country road, unconscious. He had no idea what caused the accident until someone mentioned the word "dog" some hours later. Then he remembered the dog that jumped out at him from the side of the road, and apparently took out his front wheel.

On the 'tubs it could well have been a sheep. They can have a surprising turn of speed and it's always best to be wary. Could also have been a smallish stone in the road that was hit or any number of things. Wishing the guy a speedy and full recovery

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crikey | 9 years ago
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Quote:

I enjoy solo rides but riding alone isn't as safe as it used to be. Like society in general most drivers are fine - a few are psychopaths. Riding alone is a roll of the dice.

You'll have some figures to back this up, of course?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29878233

This would seem to suggest that you are being silly.

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Dnnnnnn replied to crikey | 9 years ago
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crikey wrote:
Quote:

I enjoy solo rides but riding alone isn't as safe as it used to be. Like society in general most drivers are fine - a few are psychopaths. Riding alone is a roll of the dice.

You'll have some figures to back this up, of course?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29878233

This would seem to suggest that you are being silly.

After 20+years of mostly riding alone, virtually without incident, I reckon my luck with the dice should point me towards making a fat living through professional gambling.

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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I enjoy solo rides but riding alone isn't as safe as it used to be. Like society in general most drivers are fine - a few are psychopaths. Riding alone is a roll of the dice.

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pmf170170 | 9 years ago
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Buttertubs is a dangerous descent and it is more than possible that this chap has come off his bike without the involvement of a third party.

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therealsmallboy | 9 years ago
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Hopefully he's just midjudged his speed (easily done on Buttertubs) and slid out, either way let's wish him all the best and hopefully he'll get back out into that beautiful part of the world again sooner rather than later.

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unpopular | 9 years ago
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No such thing as 'motorists' or 'cyclists', just people.

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riotgibbon | 9 years ago
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In in hospital waiting for a wrist operation after falling off in Windsor last night, I was rescued within seconds by a passing motorust who took me to a&e when they saw the state of me_and my bike is having a sleepover at their grace and favour lodging in Windsor castle!

Still hope yet

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welshman001 | 9 years ago
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Agreed with above posts. This is one of the reasons I attempt to take all reasonable precautions i.e. wear a helmet with an ICE tag. So if in an example like this, then persons can be alerted. Hope the chap recovers speedily.

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peted76 | 9 years ago
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Poor bugger, hope he recovers well.

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alexuk | 9 years ago
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I really hope he recovers. He is living my worst nightmare. Although we don't know the facts yet, we have to consider this may have been a hit and run, involving a motorist. When I'm out riding solo around the quiet countryside, I do wonder, that if I was hit by a motorist, if they would actually stop to help me, or just drive off and leave me to die on the roadside. The answer I find myself with, is most often the latter. Human life has been devalued by modern society. Look after each other out there!.

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davenportmb replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

Although we don't know the facts yet, we have to consider this may have been a hit and run, involving a motorist.

Yes, but because we don't know the facts we also need to equally consider that this wasn't a hit and run involving another motorist. No point jumping to conclusions.

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Dnnnnnn replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

Human life has been devalued by modern society

Rather off-topic, and at the risk of starting a philosophical debate, but if by "human life" you mean our very living, breathing state, I'd argue that human life has never been valued more. Look at the advances in healthcare, the reduction in road and workplace deaths, and the reluctance to go to war (and the controversy around casualties when we do).

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wwfcb replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

.....Although we don't know the facts yet, we have to consider this may have been a hit and run,........

why speculate? as you say we don't know the facts.

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zanf replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

When I'm out riding solo around the quiet countryside, I do wonder, that if I was hit by a motorist, if they would actually stop to help me, or just drive off and leave me to die on the roadside.

Thankfully, you are in a position to wonder if they would help or not, where if you were in China, you would be wondering if the driver would be prosecuted for repeatedly driving over you deliberately to kill you

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pmf170170 replied to zanf | 9 years ago
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Apparently it's much the same in India. It's driven by the lack of insurance and having a liability to support an injured person.

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ARGYLL replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

I really hope he recovers. He is living my worst nightmare. Although we don't know the facts yet, we have to consider this may have been a hit and run, involving a motorist. When I'm out riding solo around the quiet countryside, I do wonder, that if I was hit by a motorist, if they would actually stop to help me, or just drive off and leave me to die on the roadside. The answer I find myself with, is most often the latter. Human life has been devalued by modern society. Look after each other out there!.

Correct we don't know the facts, it could have been that he simply crashed, try looking on the positive side for a change, not that there really is one in this case, but you get my drift. Everyone I know would stop, so modern society looks pretty good from my perspective.

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severs1966 replied to alexuk | 9 years ago
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alexuk wrote:

...this may have been a hit and run... When I'm out riding solo around the quiet countryside, I do wonder, that if I was hit by a motorist, if they would actually stop to help me, or just drive off and leave me to die on the roadside...

They leave you to die in cities, so why would the countryside be different? I have been run over a number of times; none of the drivers even got out of their cars.

If it was a car that struck him, I would EXPECT the driver to have left the scene; I see this as the norm, despite it being illegal. Cars hitting bikes are USUALLY hit and run. Drivers have learned that they will not be pursued and caught by the police, and if they are, they will not be punished by the courts.

It is not "society" that has devalued human life, but the authorities.

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Josh Cwpr | 9 years ago
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Best of luck to him.

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