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Police appeal for information after cyclist is pushed 40 feet along road by hit and run driver in Essex

Van involved was later abandoned and set on fire

Essex police are appealing for help after a cyclist was pushed 40 feet along a road by a hit and run driver. The van involved in the incident was later found abandoned having been set on fire.

The Clacton Gazette reports that a 30-year-old woman from Grays was riding her bike along a residential access road which runs alongside Lodge Lane in Grays when she was hit from behind by a White Ford Transit van. The van reportedly pushed the woman and her bike for 40 feet along the road, before she became dislodged and fell to the ground.

The driver failed to stop at the scene and left the woman lying injured on the ground. She was later taken to Basildon Hospital by paramedics, where she was treated for various injuries, none of which were life threatening.

Police say that the van was later found in Biggin Lane, where it had been abandoned and set on fire.

PC Mark Turner of the Chigwell Road Policing Unit appealed to the public for information.

"The van driver knew he had struck the cyclist but yet still fled the scene for only reasons he can explain. He showed total disregard for the life of this young woman.

"I would urge the van driver to come forward voluntarily. But I would also urge the community to help and if anyone is aware of who has been using this van in the Grays area we would like to hear from them urgently.”

The registration number of the van is MA59 XUC and the incident took place at around 8.30pm on Sunday May 3. The van driver is described as a white man, aged between 20 and 30. Witnesses to this incident or anyone with information as to the van driver’s identity can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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17 comments

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jiberjaber | 9 years ago
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I tweeted Essex Police, Essex Roads Police, Thurrock BC and Essex CC. Around there there is a significant network of ANPR cameras which should at least be able to build some picture of where the van has been.... nothing heard back, it would be nice to think they already have it in hand but feels unlikely....

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Andrewbanshee | 9 years ago
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Considering we are a country that has a reputation of having the most survaillance cameras around, why is it they never seem to be working when needed? To be honest the picture quality is crap, at best. Perhaps getting rid and actually policing might help reduce the crime.
I hope the lady makes a full recovery, although she will probably be too terrified to ride a bicycle now.

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Das | 9 years ago
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Van owner no doubt has since reported the van stolen........

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Accessibility f... | 9 years ago
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If this motorist had been licensed and insured then this kind of thing would not happen.

Oh, wait...

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Kestevan | 9 years ago
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Saturday night out on the lash.

Get up on Sunday, get in the works van and nip down to the shops for some fags and a paper.

Run down a cyclist. Realise you're probably still over the limit from last night so dump the van and torch it.

Quickly get home, ring the nick and claim you've just got up and found your van has been nicked.

Wait for Plod to lose interest, cos it was only a cyclist and lets face it, they aint going to waste time investigating more than they have to.

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balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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Well the van is insured... shouldn't be too hard to find the owner, who legally has to keep records of who's driving their commercial vehicles

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Matt_S | 9 years ago
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where it had been abandoned and set on fire

Which, coincidentally, is what should also happen to the driver.

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tuber | 9 years ago
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Another shocking 'incident' of obviously irresponsible and probably dangerous driving, Fortunately the poor victim survived this time. It is so saddening to read about such 'incidents' so regularly. After all, a % of the cyclists mindset is often that their travels (for whatever reason), brings health, social and environmental benefits. The rewards for this altrustic mindset are deeply unjust. I've been cycling since the middle of the last century and in my experience cyclists have always been treated as second class road users.
The vast majority of cycling (and pedestrian), deaths and injuries are only reported locally, so for many, the road killing is just an occasional 'incident'.
Thanks to Road cc we (in the sticks), now know what's going on.
I think it would be useful if all these shocking reports could be easily printed in one go. Those of us that wish to do so could then go round to all the party candidates councillors and the like etc. and push our printouts through their letterboxes.

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Vili Er | 9 years ago
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£20 find and three points.

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Alsajosora | 9 years ago
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Also if the van had been sold and the new keeper hasn't registered it......

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SB76 replied to Alsajosora | 9 years ago
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Alsajosora wrote:

Also if the van had been sold and the new keeper hasn't registered it......

Surely in this case, the previous owner must have a name/contact details/reasonable description.

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vonhelmet replied to SB76 | 9 years ago
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SB76 wrote:
Alsajosora wrote:

Also if the van had been sold and the new keeper hasn't registered it......

Surely in this case, the previous owner must have a name/contact details/reasonable description.

Oh dear, they appear to have mislaid their phone number. It was a guy, about 5'10 with brown hair. He was wearing jeans.

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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I bet the plod haven't even thought of looking up the registered owner or demanding to know from them in whose possession it was and who was driving when it struck the cyclist.

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Beefy | 9 years ago
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Surley the van must be registered to someone

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Joeinpoole replied to Beefy | 9 years ago
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Beefy wrote:

Surley the van must be registered to someone

It might be a cloned registration plate (i.e. the real white van with that plate has already been proven to have been elsewhere). It's becoming far more common now that police can check insurance and MOT documentation instantaneously with number-reading cameras.

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pmr | 9 years ago
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Dowhatyoulikey's probably missing a van.

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Bob's Bikes replied to pmr | 9 years ago
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pmr wrote:

Dowhatyoulikey's probably missing a van.

Yes and no, some time ago a ordinary person had their van stolen and sometime in the near future somebody else is going to have their van stolen to replace the pikeys means of transport.

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