Cyclist Antony Bishop is recovering after a hit-and-run in Berwick. 48481
By Kelly Yates
A CYCLIST with more than 30 years’ riding experience has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Berwick.
Antony Bishop was cycling along Harkaway Road at 2.10pm on Monday 24 May when he was struck from behind by a car.
The 46-year-old, from Fairfield in Queensland, was visiting friends in Narre Warren when the incident occurred.
“I ride between 12,000 and 16,000km every year and this is the first time in my life that I’ve been hit by a car,” Mr Bishop said.
“I thought to myself as I was riding that the section of road was quiet and narrow. Cars had been going around me. Then I heard this car and expected it to go around me but all of a sudden my bike started breaking up and I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty.”
The next thing Mr Bishop recalled was waking up on the road after being thrown into the guard rail.
The driver of the car didn’t stop.
“I dragged myself off the road and immediately there were people there helping me. I think I must have passed out for a few minutes,” he said.” Mr Bishop was taken to The Alfred hospital where he was treated for three fractured vertebrae and four broken ribs.
He also had surgery on his left ankle. He spent five days in hospital.
Police are on the hunt for the driver of the car, which they believe is a 1996 to 2000 model Hyundai Excel sedan.
Acting Sergeant Allen Inderwisch, from the Casey Traffic Management Unit (TMU), said the car would have possible damage to its front left-hand side and be missing its left-hand side mirror.
He wants anyone who may have seen the damaged car to call police. “We are hoping the driver will do the right thing and come forward,” he said.
Mr Bishop, who started cycling when he was in his teens, said he still planned to move to the Narre Warren area, despite the hit-and-run.
“The biggest disappointment was that the driver didn’t stop to help,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s the three or four minutes after the incident and before emergency services get to the scene that can help save a life.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Acting Sergeant Allen Inderwisch at the Casey Traffic Management Unit on 5991 0600.
