Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
...and Ouse Bridge was taped off and Police were redirecting traffic. Finally found out what happened:
THE centre of York was brought to a standstill after a police van responding to an emergency call hit a pedestrian on Ouse Bridge.
The pedestrian thought to be in his 20s was released from York Hospital yesterday evening after sustaining serious cuts to his head in the collision, just after 6.30pm on Saturday.
The bridge was sealed off for more than three hours, with pedestrians and motorists being turned away.
Sergeant Dave Willey, of York Police, said the police van was travelling towards Rougier Street when a pedestrian stepped out in front of it.
Pete Condon, 20, of Rufforth, saw the accident happen in front of him as he walked along the bridge.
He said he was parallel to the police van as it came into contact with the man, just after the Slug & Lettuce, on the south side of the bridge.
advertisementHe said a group of men were walking along the north side of the bridge, coming towards him.
"A lad ran across the road from Yates' side. He managed to miss being run over by a red Fiat Punto," he said.
"As he ran across, there was a police vehicle a dog section van coming towards him.
"The van was doing about 40 or 50mph. The guy ran out literally in front of it the copper had no time to do anything. The guy pretty much went through the windscreen."
Mr Condon said the police van had not had any lights or sirens on at the time, but accident investigator PC Grant Gibson said other witnesses to the event both pedestrians and motorists did see lights and hear sirens.
Mr Condon said the man understood to be from Darlington was "on the floor unconscious, covered in blood".
"I offered my jacket, because I'm a first-aider, and another passer-by, who was a nurse, helped," he said.
Mr Condon was interviewed by police following the incident.
Sgt Willey said North Yorkshire Police had voluntarily referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The road remained closed while police and the IPCC investigated. It was reopened shortly before 10pm.
Sgt Willey said it was normal procedure for accidents involving police vehicles to be referred to the organisation.
An IPCC spokesman said the organisation would make a decision today as to whether they would be involved in the investigation.
"We deployed an investigator to the scene on Saturday," he said. "Our commissioner will now decide whether circumstances warrant us investigating, or whether we should just let North Yorkshire (Police) get on with it. That is very much dependent upon the circumstances and whether the police were following the correct procedures."
Witnesses should phone 0845 6060247.
|
dave17
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 02
Location: Greater London
User status: Offline
|
wallop
|
SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
|
I blame it on birds with saggy udders flopping all over the place on sat nights.
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
Mr Condon
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
Don't be silly Marc, the Ouse is down here, not up there
|
Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
Its also down the sewers.
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
That's what I said
|
Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
Are you down in the sewers Robster?
[Edited on 02-04-2007 by Marc]
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
Smells like it today
|