Police probe into Dan Walker bike crash: Force says ‘enquiries are ongoing’ after TV host was hit by car while out cycling – as dashcam footage captures moment of collision
- Police shared an update after ex-BBC presenter, 45, was knocked from his bike
- Dan Walker has no memory of the crash in the centre of Sheffield on Monday
Police say ‘enquiries are ongoing’ after ex-BBC presenter Dan Walker was knocked off his bike by a car on a notorious roundabout in Sheffield city centre.
Dashcam footage has emerged showing the moment the broadcaster, 45, was hit while cycling on Monday morning, leaving him bloodied and bruised.
In an update, a spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police told Sky News that ‘no arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing’.
It comes as video footage from a vehicle in front of the accident showed Walker on his bicycle when the rear wheel caught a car’s front wing.
As the car crashed into Walker, the father of three was sent sprawling onto the tarmac and narrowly avoided going under its wheels.
The former BBC presenter took selfies of his bloodied face from the inside of an ambulance as he shared details of the frightening incident
Walker on his bicycle and the black car were seen edging closer and closer before the crash that saw the presenter knocked out for 20 minutes
In footage from a car ahead, Walker’s rear wheel can be seen catching the car’s front wing, flipping the Strictly Come Dancing star over
Dan Walker was hit by a car while trying to cycle over the roundabout on Moore Street in the centre of Sheffield, MailOnline understands
The Strictly Come Dancing star lay unconscious on the road for 20 minutes and woke up to paramedics and police standing over him.
MailOnline has discovered there is a cycling path that would have diverted him through a subway underneath the road, avoiding heavy traffic.
Instead, he cycled straight on and over the roundabout, which leads into central Sheffield from the south-western suburbs of the city.
The Channel 5 presenter, who was on his way to the train station, had been cycling for 15 minutes when the crash took place.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene, on the junction of Moore Street and Hanover Way, at 8.36am on Monday. Walker has no memory of the crash and thanked his helmet for saving his life.
The roundabout is said to be a notorious accident black spot.
He tweeted this selfie of his swollen face after arriving home from hospital on Monday
Walker thanked the two paramedics who treated him for the injuries before tweeting a picture of them from inside an ambulance. He said he was knocked out cold for 20 minutes
He was knocked out and narrowly avoided being run over by the car after he lay sprawled on the tarmac
Emergency services were called to the scene on the junction of Moore Street and Hanover Way. A cycle lane is said to go under the roundabout through a subway
READ MORE: Ex-BBC presenter Dan Walker was knocked out cold for 20 MINUTES after he was hit by a car while cycling in horror crash: ‘I’m very thankful to still be here’
Reports say 37 collisions have happened on Ecclesall Road, which leads onto Moore Street, between 2016 and 2019 where cyclists have been injured.
Cycle Sheffield previously told the Star that six of these were recorded at Hunters Bar roundabout, on the same long stretch of road.
Road safety experts have warned cyclists to use cycle lanes where possible and told road users to be more aware and on the ‘lookout’.
Rebecca Guy, road safety manager at Rospa, said: ‘We believe road users should be aware they are using a shared space and therefore on the lookout for others – this includes cyclists, people out walking, people on scooters and those in other vehicles.
‘Although we do recognise that cycle paths sometimes provide quieter routes with less traffic, cyclists may exercise their judgement and are not obliged to use them.’
Dr Suzy Charman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation, added: ‘We know that cyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to being killed or seriously injured when they are struck by vehicles moving above 20mph which is why we are seeing lots of 20mph speed limits being put into place now.
‘We are pleased that Dan’s injuries appear minor, but this collision does illustrate the importance of either managing traffic speeds below 20mph where cyclists are expected to mix with motorised vehicles or providing segregated facilities where traffic speeds are higher.
A cycle lane is said to go under the roundabout through a subway
Walker tweeted three pictures from inside the back of an ambulance as he was treated for his injuries
‘I would advise cyclists to use segregated facilities where they are provided especially where traffic is moving above 20mph, but I think there is also an onus on those that provide facilities to make sure they are safe and convenient.
‘We very much need to encourage active travel which brings health and environmental benefits, however we also need to provide convenient and safe facilities in order to realise those benefits.’
In October 2021, a 23-year-old motorist died when he crashed into railings on Moore Street, while last May a pedestrian was taken to hospital after being hit by a car just off the roundabout.
One restaurant worker half a mile from the accident scene said: ‘It’s a really big, busy roundabout with lots of traffic. He’s luckily to have escaped serious injury.
‘Dan comes in now and again with his family, he’s a really nice guy. I’m glad he’s now at home recuperating.’
The presenter previously posed for a selfie with his bicycle, believed to be the same bike he was using before the crash
Read more: Dan Walker was knocked out cold for 20 MINUTES after he was hit by a car while cycling in horror crash
Walker tweeted a selfie of his swollen face and bloodied shirt from the back of an ambulance.
He later wrote on social media: ‘I think I got hit by a car but was out cold for about 20 minutes. I have no memory of it.
‘I can’t believe I haven’t broken anything or that it is so much worse. I came round on the tarmac with paramedics and police standing over me. I’m very thankful to still be here and just have a beast of a headache.’
Walker hosted BBC Breakfast from 2016 and took part in the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing, revealing he signed up for the show to do something ‘fun’ and have a ‘giggle’ after reporting on difficult news stories during the pandemic.
He also hosted Football Focus for 12 years, along with regular appearances on Match of the Day, the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the NFL Show.
Last year he replaced Sian Williams as the lead anchor for 5 News after she announced she was stepping down in April last year.
He also presents a number of other shows on Channel 5 including Digging for Treasure.
Source: Read Full Article
