Police seek motorists following death of Buttertubs Pass cyclist

North Yorkshire police are appealing for a number of MG sports car drivers and the occupants of a small yellow car – possibly a Toyota or Suzuki – to come forward following the death of a cyclist who was found on Buttertubs Pass on Sunday October 4.

Patrick McDonough, 59, was found at around 11.40am by a passing motorist, about 200m from the hill’s summit on the road between Hawes and Muker. He was taken to James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough where he died the following day.

The vehicles were seen in the area around the time that McDonough was found and while officers have stressed that there is currently no suspicion that they were involved, it is believed that the vehicle occupants may be able to provide valuable information.

It is thought that the occupants of the small yellow car were taking photographs of the scenery and were possibly professional photographers. Investigators have contacted local motoring clubs in a bid to trace the MG drivers, but thus far no-one has come forward.

If you drive an MG sports car or a yellow car and saw a lone cyclist travelling between Hawes and Muker along Buttertubs Pass on the Sunday morning, you can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 before selecting option two and asking for the Major Collision Investigation Unit. Alternatively, you can email MCIT [at] northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

McDonough had been travelling from Hawes towards Muker and was wearing a white helmet, fluorescent yellow T-shirt and dark coloured shorts and was riding a silver Canyon bike.