Nobody was hurt
, but I do need a new rear wheel
.
Here's the incident as I remember it (my view may be a little less than totally impartial, but I want to record it to get my memory straight for any statement I have to make later):
We had turned right along Mill Lane, which changes its name to Lee Street part way along. A group of about 8 - 10 of us were riding 2 abreast (in compliance with the Highway code "Do not ride more than 2 abreast") at about 20mph, passing a parked car. The motorist in question began to overtake us when a car approached us in the opposite direction. The motorist moved to the left, forcing the back of the group to the left. The motorists wingmirror almost forced Steve Hinton into the parked car. The motorist then stopped and started to verbally abuse Steve. I heard the abuse and returned in an attempt to defuse the situation and reach a safe conclusion (I see this as part of my role as VC and ride leader). I thought that the driver had knocked Steve off his bike and he looked like he was about to leave the scene without providing his details. So I positioned my bike and myself in front of the vehicle. The motorist then drove at me and hit my bicycle running over the rear wheel, damaging it beyond repair. The motorist then got out of the vehicle (a black Nissan pickup) and verbally abused me, picked up my bike, carried it to the pavement and threw it down. I remained in front of his vehicle and addvised him that he had now been in a road traffic accident and should not leave the scene until we had exchanged details. He shouted something about "My wife has just had a baby" and began to aggressively drive towards me. His vehicle hit me and began to push me backwards. At this point I was glad to be wearing shoes with slippery look cleats as my shoes skidded along the road. If they had gripped, I would have fallen and then I shudder to think what might have happened. Fearing for my life, I attempted to move out of the way. The driver mounted the pavement then sped off. We got a photo of the vehicle on a mobile, and several of us noted down the licence plate.
I have the names of a couple of the club members who saw what happenned, and a driving instuctor gave me his card and said that whilst he didn't see the "accident" he did see the driver leave the scene without providing his details.
I've telephoned Surrey police to report it. I have a police incident number, and a promise that they will telephone me back later. At the moment I want the driver to be charged with any or all of the following:
Dangerous driving - deliberately and repeatedly accelerating twards me making contact on at least two occasions.
Assault with a deadly weapon - vis two tons of steel.
Leaving the scene of an accident.
I must stress that I am not physically hurt, but I am shaken and my bike was damaged to the point that I had to force the wheel straight enough to ride gently, then try to further true it on the train from Horley to East Croydon then ride very gingerly home.
Could anybody who witnessed the incident please pm me with their names and addresses.
Thanks.
.
