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Cyclist aged 5 injured after adult rider crashes into him then rides off

Freddie-Lee Simmons-Fletcher was riding home from school with family

A five-year-old boy who was riding his bike home from school with his three siblings, his mother and one of her friends needed hospital treatment after he was knocked off his bike by an adult cyclist who then rode off.

The Hull Daily Mail, which has dashcam footage of the incident, reports that Freddie-Lee Simmons-Fletcher needed to be taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment to cuts and bruises to his face following the incident on Friday afternoon, which happened as he and his family rode along a footpath.

The cyclist who crashed into the youngster also came off his bike but immediately remounted a made off from the scene in Greenwood Avenue, North Hull, in what Freddie-Lee’s father, Daniel Fletcher, described as a “hit and run” incident.

"I'm so angry as a parent about what happened and I can't believe the man just rode off without helping,” he said. “It's a hit and run, no matter whether the accident happened with a car or bike and we've reported it to the police.

"I want the man finding and punishing and I want him to explain how he could a five-year-old boy in a pool of blood like he did. It's not fair what happened.

"It's lucky that Freddie didn't end up in intensive care with what happened, as it could've been so much worse."

He continued: "He had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance for treatment and now has two black eyes and is struggling to eat as he's in so much pain with his face, which is really sore.

“His eyebrow had to be glued and he has a big cut from it under his left eye as well as bruising.

"Freddie was so brave though even though he cried a lot over all the blood, and he's been so brave since.

“He's so good on his bike as well and knows his road safety and has never had an accident before,” he added.

“The man should have seen all the school kids on bikes and slowed down, but he didn't.”

The dashcam footage was submitted to the Hull Daily Mail by a motorist who was driving along Greenwood Avenue at the time the crash happened, after the newspaper launched an appeal to try and track down the adult cyclist.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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26 comments

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Zigster | 4 years ago
2 likes

Crap riding from the adult cyclist - I'd give a child much more room than that, particularly as they can be erratic and wobble more than adult cyclists.   But I'd give adult cyclists more room too.

Pretty sensationalist reporting from the Hull Daily Mail, though.  It's not shocking and the adult cyclist didn't leg it - in fact, the parents seem to quickly take the kid's bike away as if they weren't interested in hanging around to discuss it.

I hope the kid's bruises and scratches heal quickly and he isn't put off cycling.

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OldRidgeback | 4 years ago
0 likes

I do feel sorry for the kid, who has suffered the most. The person overtaking should've backed off more and been more careful around a child. That said, the parents should've done more as well to ensure the child's safety. When my kids were little, I'd have them riding in front of me and I'd be slightly outside of them as well in this instance. The rider should've stayed around to see if the child was hurt. 

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jaysa | 4 years ago
2 likes

I unclip first - ready to put feet down.smiley

It can be the only option with spaniels that go all over the place following their nose, or little kids that look at you then ride into you ! With parents  stopped having a natter in the middle of the path despite ringing my bell ...

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dobbo996 | 4 years ago
4 likes

Hmm. My take on this incident is as follows. If you're riding a bike around children, or dogs for that matter, slow down and be prepared to stop. Kids are unpredictable and might (will) do something unexpected. Is your journey so important you can't spare a few seconds?

Anyway....all this bad 'killer bicycle' press is getting me down. It's certainly affecting peoples' attitude toward me when I ride. Just this morning riding through a large park to work I came up behind a couple, in their mid 60s I would say, walking along one of the shared paths. The path here is wide but I slowed down to jogging pace and gave them at least 10 feet to spare. As I freewheeled past, about to offer a "good morning", the man grabbed his wife's arm and pulled her away and gave me a hard stare. I'm seeing this attitude - bicycles pose more of a danger to pedestrians than cars - more and more these days. It's dispiriting.   

 

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dmack replied to dobbo996 | 4 years ago
3 likes

dobbo996 wrote:

Hmm. My take on this incident is as follows. If you're riding a bike around children, or dogs for that matter, slow down and be prepared to stop. Kids are unpredictable and might (will) do something unexpected. Is your journey so important you can't spare a few seconds?

Completely agree.  We're meant to cycle (or drive) in a way appropriate to the conditions.  If you can't stop in time to avoid a collision, you are going to fast.

And we live in a shared space.  Sick and tired of people banging on about their "rights" whether it's car drivers, mainly, or cyclists.  There was an argument on another forum about the cyclist who headbutted a pedestrian after the cyclist jumped a red light.  Couldn't believe the number of cyclists who claimed this was Ok as the cyclist had a "right" to keep moving.

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dobbo996 replied to dmack | 4 years ago
1 like

dmack wrote:

And we live in a shared space.  Sick and tired of people banging on about their "rights" whether it's car drivers, mainly, or cyclists.  There was an argument on another forum about the cyclist who headbutted a pedestrian after the cyclist jumped a red light.  Couldn't believe the number of cyclists who claimed this was Ok as the cyclist had a "right" to keep moving.

I see this incident as 'man headbutts man'. Of course being a local tussle it shouldn't have made the national press but, hey, add 'cyclist' and it becomes perfect clickbait. Whatever, the bloke doing the headbutting is a thug, pure and simple.

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jaysa replied to dobbo996 | 4 years ago
4 likes

dobbo996 wrote:

Hmm. My take on this incident is as follows. If you're riding a bike around children, or dogs for that matter, slow down and be prepared to stop. Kids are unpredictable and might (will) do something unexpected.

^^ This. I sometimes ride on a shared use path which is full of people on a sunny day. For kids and dogs, I unclip and slow right down to 1-2mph, and smile or have a chat with the adults sometimes. I'd never forgive myself if I hit a child ...

It's just not useful to say people should or shouldn't, because people aren't perfect and don't! Just anticipate and cope with it and enjoy being on a bike smiley

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burtthebike replied to jaysa | 4 years ago
3 likes

jaysa wrote:

dobbo996 wrote:

Hmm. My take on this incident is as follows. If you're riding a bike around children, or dogs for that matter, slow down and be prepared to stop. Kids are unpredictable and might (will) do something unexpected.

^^ This. I sometimes ride on a shared use path which is full of people on a sunny day. For kids and dogs, I unclip and slow right down to 1-2mph,

Are you sure?  At that speed a bicycle is unstable and you would fall off; doesn't sound safe for the kids, you could land on them.  And the pedestrians would be overtaking you, seeing as they would be travelling at least twice as fast.

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dobbo996 replied to burtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like

[/quote]

^^ This. I sometimes ride on a shared use path which is full of people on a sunny day. For kids and dogs, I unclip and slow right down to 1-2mph,

[/quote]

Are you sure?  At that speed a bicycle is unstable and you would fall off; doesn't sound safe for the kids, you could land on them.  And the pedestrians would be overtaking you, seeing as they would be travelling at least twice as fast.

[/quote]

1-2 mph is wobbly, I'd agree. What's an average walking speed, 3mph? Jogging, 7-8mph? I'd say slowing to a quick walking speed, 4mph, would do the job. You can stop very quickly from 4mph, and any impact, to both parties, would be minimal. Let's just say sticking to a walking pace around kids, and dogs, usually does the trick.

I've had to stop several times in the last few weeks, on a particular shared path, because a child is wandering about in front of me, on a bike or walking, which is what kids do. I am not prepared to hurt a child for my own self-entitlement. Dogs too but I will have 'words' with the owner asking them to use a short lead when on shared space. It's not the dog's fault.........usually get told to f*** off though.

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Kendalred replied to dobbo996 | 4 years ago
2 likes

dobbo996 wrote:

I've had to stop several times in the last few weeks, on a particular shared path, because a child is wandering about in front of me, on a bike or walking, which is what kids do. I am not prepared to hurt a child for my own self-entitlement. Dogs too but I will have 'words' with the owner asking them to use a short lead when on shared space. It's not the dog's fault.........usually get told to f*** off though.

Yes, those extendable leads should be banned - an unpredictable dog on one end and an idiot on the other, it's essentially a trip wire for cyclists and other pedestrians.

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OldRidgeback replied to Kendalred | 4 years ago
2 likes

Kendalred wrote:

dobbo996 wrote:

I've had to stop several times in the last few weeks, on a particular shared path, because a child is wandering about in front of me, on a bike or walking, which is what kids do. I am not prepared to hurt a child for my own self-entitlement. Dogs too but I will have 'words' with the owner asking them to use a short lead when on shared space. It's not the dog's fault.........usually get told to f*** off though.

Yes, those extendable leads should be banned - an unpredictable dog on one end and an idiot on the other, it's essentially a trip wire for cyclists and other pedestrians.

I've an extendable lead for my dog, though I don't use it. They're not a good idea IMHO as a dog can get running and then when the lead unspools to its maximum, both you and the pooch get an unpleasant surprise that can cause an injury to both. My dog's a whippet and if he sees a squirrel and engages prey drive, then he'll hit warp factor whippet and reach up to 64km/h in very little time. On the end of an extendable lead, he'd do himself and me some harm. 

Shared spaces are just that. I cycle through them carefully. Pedestrians do have priority under most UK bylaws. Children and dogs are particularly unpredictable and as a rider, it's your responsibility to be more careful around them. Even if my dog's on a short lead, he can still pull fast and hard if he sees a squirrel he wants to chase. His rotweiller buddy is a big strong dog and she takes a lot of stopping if she decides to change direction fast when she sees a squirrel. Anyone who rides fast and close to a child or dog is stupid and irresponsible.

I've little time for cyclists who charge along a shared use path and I've been known to give them an earful, whether I'm riding, jogging or walking the dog.

 

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burtthebike replied to dobbo996 | 4 years ago
0 likes

dobbo996 wrote:

Dogs too but I will have 'words' with the owner asking them to use a short lead when on shared space. It's not the dog's fault.........usually get told to f*** off though.

Next time you can quote the HC to them, and point out that if their dog causes you injury, you will be sueing them:

"56
Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders."

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growingvegtables | 4 years ago
7 likes

Thoughts -

- Adult cyclist on the pavement.  [Reality check - I'm not at all surprised, given my experience of unpoliced driving "standards" in Hull.]

- Was the adult cyclist riding too fast?  Or was there a misjudgement, by either party?  Probably a bit of both.

- Was it a hit-and-run?  Nope.  I was touched by the way some of the child's family went to check on the adult cyclist, as well as looking out for the child knocked off.

 

More thoughts -

- Driver caught it on dashcam; summat tells me he has an agenda?

- Hull Daily Mail took driver's agenda, and, my God, did they hype it up, Daily-Heil-style.  That is NOT "shocking footage", of a wee boy being "plowed into"; nor does the video suggest the adult "fleeing the scene".

 

Bottom lines

- best wishes for the wee lad and his family;

- A curse on either/both of the driver with the dashcam, the local rag "journalist";

- And FFS, Hull authorities!  Sort out your cycling provision, and your policing of drivers.

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lllnorrislll | 4 years ago
2 likes

It was an accident and not malicious, however, you should ride to the conditions of the 'road'. So, if there are other users such as children present, then allowences need to be made and be prepared to slow or possibly stop.

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
1 like

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

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burtthebike replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
2 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

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HoarseMann replied to burtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

burtthebike wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

I think that’s a bit unfair to the parents in this case. They do seem to be supervising the kids, but as anyone who has taken young kids out on a bicycle ride knows, there’s a limit to how much controlling you can do. You really do need other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care.

If you are going to cycle on a pavement, you have to be prepared to slow to a stop. This did not look reckless, but just really badly judged. Even though the solo rider had stopped pedalling, they were still going a bit too quick and could have given the kid a lot more room.

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Tony Farrelly replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
3 likes
HoarseMann wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

I think that’s a bit unfair to the parents in this case. They do seem to be supervising the kids, but as anyone who has taken young kids out on a bicycle ride knows, there’s a limit to how much controlling you can do. You really do need other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care.

If you are going to cycle on a pavement, you have to be prepared to slow to a stop. This did not look reckless, but just really badly judged. Even though the solo rider had stopped pedalling, they were still going a bit too quick and could have given the kid a lot more room.

Totally agree.
The only person to blame here is the cyclist.
Let's just take it on the chin, just like every other type of road user cyclists sometimes ride without paying enough attention to their surroundings or enough consideration to other - more vulnerable road users including other cyclists – in this case some very young kids and their parents cycling home from school.
As for his post crash concern for the child it seems momentary at best… 2 maybe 3 seconds before he hopped on his bike and got out of there. My guess more out of embarrassment than fear of the law or retribution or indeed the Hull Daily Mail.

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burtthebike replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
0 likes

HoarseMann wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

I think that’s a bit unfair to the parents in this case. They do seem to be supervising the kids, but as anyone who has taken young kids out on a bicycle ride knows, there’s a limit to how much controlling you can do. You really do need other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care. If you are going to cycle on a pavement, you have to be prepared to slow to a stop. This did not look reckless, but just really badly judged. Even though the solo rider had stopped pedalling, they were still going a bit too quick and could have given the kid a lot more room.

If you are riding with kids, you ride outside of them, so they can't stray into the path of oncoming traffic.  The parents in this case signally failed to do that, they allowed their son to pull into the path of the other cyclist, they are at least equally to blame.

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HoarseMann replied to burtthebike | 4 years ago
2 likes

burtthebike wrote:

HoarseMann wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

I think that’s a bit unfair to the parents in this case. They do seem to be supervising the kids, but as anyone who has taken young kids out on a bicycle ride knows, there’s a limit to how much controlling you can do. You really do need other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care. If you are going to cycle on a pavement, you have to be prepared to slow to a stop. This did not look reckless, but just really badly judged. Even though the solo rider had stopped pedalling, they were still going a bit too quick and could have given the kid a lot more room.

If you are riding with kids, you ride outside of them, so they can't stray into the path of oncoming traffic.  The parents in this case signally failed to do that, they allowed their son to pull into the path of the other cyclist, they are at least equally to blame.

There is no way they could have managed that. There were more kids than parents. One towing a trailer and the other with a child seat. All on a narrow path. Not exactly the perfect situation to demonstrate the formation and manoeuvrability equivalent to the red arrows.

Just like motorists need to give cyclists a wide berth when overtaking on the road, in case they need to swerve to avoid a pothole. Cyclists need to give kids, dogs and pedestrians a wide berth on paths, because their behaviour can be unpredictable.

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burtthebike replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
1 like

HoarseMann wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

HoarseMann wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Much as it pains me to agree with you, I do.  Too many parents assume that they don't need to supervise their children on a cycle path, because it's safe isn't it?  At least as much their fault as the adult rider, who seems to have checked that there wasn't a problem before leaving.  Still, this is the Mail, recently proved to be the most inaccurate of all the media, so they aren't going to report anything to do with cycling fairly.

I think that’s a bit unfair to the parents in this case. They do seem to be supervising the kids, but as anyone who has taken young kids out on a bicycle ride knows, there’s a limit to how much controlling you can do. You really do need other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra care. If you are going to cycle on a pavement, you have to be prepared to slow to a stop. This did not look reckless, but just really badly judged. Even though the solo rider had stopped pedalling, they were still going a bit too quick and could have given the kid a lot more room.

If you are riding with kids, you ride outside of them, so they can't stray into the path of oncoming traffic.  The parents in this case signally failed to do that, they allowed their son to pull into the path of the other cyclist, they are at least equally to blame.

There is no way they could have managed that.

Clearly they could have, and next time they probably will, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

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Robert Hardy replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
3 likes
Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Some motorists feel exactly the same about groups of cyclists on the road, they are expected to leave a considerable clearance when overtaking and to hold back until it is safe to do so. I see no reason why cyclists should consider themselves under no obligation to do the same. I am frequently overtaken with cm to spare at speed on London cycleways, a wobble from me or a pot hole and we would both be off and potentially under the wheels of an adjacent vehicle. Strava segment time hunting cyclists can be a dangerous menace.

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hmas1974 replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
1 like
Rick_Rude wrote:

Idiot parents letting everyone ride in bomber squadron formation. Looks like we much their fault.

Only a complete cu*t would think that. The normal response to such a situation would be to slow down and safely navigate through the family before proceeding.

It's entitled pricks like you that give cyclists a bad name.

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AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
1 like

That Dashcam footage does seem to cover most of what you mentioned. My only thing would be to give kids more room then he seemed to. Doesn't mook like he was on the grass but as close as he could get without being on it. I wouldn't have been on the pavement on my bike but would have given a lot more room or stopped and waited till they passed. 

For example, the recent pedal Scotland 45 closed road route allows a 10 mile family ride on the last bit. Although I was aiming for a good personal time, I slowed down along that bit and would even almost come to a stop when blocked by the children of all ages cycling as they would wobble all across the road.  Other 45 mile cyclists were still going as if they would win a cash prize if finished.

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gazzaputt | 4 years ago
3 likes

Have to disagree.

If you collided with a child any decent adult would make sure they're okay.

It isn't hit and run as such but shouldn't have ridden off.

It was just an unfortunate accident  

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brooksby | 4 years ago
4 likes

I saw this one.

Looks like the family and friends were spread out across the path so the adult went out onto the verge to go around, unfortunately hit the child.  The child was knocked off, and so was the adult.

Looks like words exchanged, then the kid gets a cuddle from mum, adult gets back on his bike, and they all leave and go their separate ways.

So didn't exactly look like an 'Evil Hit'n'Run' (TM) to me, more like mum only realising how bad the child was injured after the event (being generous; not being generous would be something like "only realising how much publicity and compensation she could get after the event").

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