Funny. I was going to title the '999' thread 'A Bit Late Getting Home'
But this morning, I've seen a collision. And I've seen ignorance. And I've seen stupidity. And I've seen the Emergency Services at their best.
There's a guy. He rides - rode - a white Bianchi Via Nirone. He rides - rode - about my pace from Clapham onwards. I've seen him often. We're almost on nodding terms, as you get with someone you spend time around on the road. He stopped at red lights, generally indicated his movements (who does it all the time?), and he's very skilled & aware of what's going on around him.
This morning, running through Stockwell at a decent clip, we had a green light, and were somewhere about 35kph in a clear bus lane.
A Connaught truck went past me, and started to pass him. Then it was indicating. Then it was turning.
An inexperienced rider woud have run into the truck side on. The Bianchi guy swerved left into the road to evade, but there were bollards so he couldn't hop the pavement (I'm not sure he could have at the speed), and the truck, after turning in, tucked into the kerb. It got him. I saw him go down and under the back wheels. I heard something break. I saw the bike shatter. I saw his head hitting the ground - maybe under the truck as he tucked - I don't know.
I wailed 'Noooooo!!!! What are you doing?'
But the truck driver had stopped and was running to help the victim.
I got my phone out and dialled 9#9#9#. I took my gloves off and dialled 999, which was more useful
I got Ambulance first, and they asked lots of detail which I didn't know. I hadn't checked the victim, just rang the nines.
We got most of it sorted. There was an Aussie guy who had been behind me (also on a Bianchi, as it happens), and was keeping traffic away, and a woman who stopped, who had first aid knowledge. She relayed answers to me. The victim was conscious, had moved his arm, but his right leg was a bit of a mess. No visible external blood.
Something else happened during the phone call, but more on that later...
I'm amazed he was alive.
Paramedic arrived. Three LAS vehicles arrived, but only the biggest stayed, along with the paramedic, who helped.
A Police vehicle arrived. They started taking details, but realised they were going to have to close the road, so taped it off. They seem to have brought a civilian woman with them. A mediator? I dunno, but she spent a long time talking with the Connaught guys (there was a second truck there too).
Then the Police rang me back, saying I'd hung up. Well, I had, because the Paramedic had advised on the phone that I didn't need to speak to the Police because they were already aware. Snotty operator, but I gave her the ID of the car attending, and she had no idea what I was talking about. Never mind - one slip by the Emergency Services in all this is OK.
The guy was strapped to a board and taken away, with his ruined bike. I don't know his name, and I don't know where he was taken, and I wish I'd found out do I could send him a card, but I guess no one's allowed to tell me
I hope to see him back on the road, but I don't know if I will
Statements taken, the Aussie & I rode off, both reflective.
Now I'm feeling tearful, and the image of Bianchi guy going under the wheels is right there in my mind constantly.
