What happens when you leave work 15 minutes late?
You get involved in a car v cyclist rear ending shit storm is what.
Not me rear ended (thank god). I was within the last 5 minutes of my ride. Unlit single carriageway road, one lane in each direction. It wasn't fully dark but as near as damn it full on dark. I could see a dim blinking light coming towards me in the other carriageway and just before we drew level, the thing resolved itself into an MTB being ridden by a mid to late teens lad. He was sat up, peddling along doing a running man impression with his arms. He was dressed in a dark blue smock type top and black shorts with long black socks. He was with a mate who was riding on the pavement. I rode on and a few seconds after, a car approached, 40 to 50 mph (NSL road so 60mph). I thought to myself- he hasn't seen the cyclist as I didn't hear a change in engine tone. I then heard a sound I never want to hear again, the impact of the car with the bike and a screaming.
I immediately turned round and made my way to the scene. The car had stopped and the driver was getting out. The lad was sitting in the road, screaming about his collar bone and asking why the driver was going so fast. He made to move to the pavement. I tried to get him to stay still but he wouldn't so we gently helped him and sat him on the pavement. I made the driver kneel behind him so the lad could relax back against him. Got my phone out but couldn't see the keypad (didn't have my glasses on) so got his mate to dial 999 and hand the phone to me. Once details were passed I split my time between keeping the casualty reassured and the traffic moving. Thankfully, a short while later an off duty paramedic drove by and stopped, so she took over the reassurance bit.
Ambulance and police turned up after about 15 minutes. Details passed then I buggered off home.
Probable broken collar bone, very deep gash in his knee. Bike absolutely fucked. The front blinker was still flashing in the heap. There was a bracket on the seat post but not sign of a rear light. Big dent in the bonnet leading edge and a body shaped breaking of the windscreen of the car.
My cup of tea on arrival home was most welcome.