This week a cyclist was hit and dragged in Newcastle by a driver who later assaulted police and emergency services workers. As The New Daily reported, the 23-year-old woman was seriously injured after the driver allegedly ran her over and intentionally dragged her for some distance. The cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition. The 25-year-old driver is alleged to have assaulted a paramedic and police officers who were attempting to conduct a breath test.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the driver refused to cooperate with legal proceedings and refused to give instruction until he was represented by a specific legal aid solicitor. The victim remains in hospital but her condition has stabilised.
In Sydney, a group of men have been sentenced over an unprovoked assault on a cyclist committed early last year. As reported by The Daily Telegraph, the 28-year-old was riding in Marayong when he was set upon, stabbed and kicked in the head by a group of six men, one of whom threatened to throw the victim from a pedestrian bridge. Four of the assailants received custodial sentences exceeding three years, while the other two received intensive corrections orders to be served in the community.
A major crash has happened at a cycling event in Murwillumbah on the NSW north coast. As Nine News reported, a number of participants in an Australian National Road Series event collided at speed with a police motorcycle that had stopped to allow a local resident to exit their driveway. The crash caused a pile-up resulting in serious injuries to 10 cyclists as well as the police officer. As reported by The Ballarat Courier, a number of riders had to be hospitalised with some requiring surgery to repair damaged joints and bones.
In other news, a cyclist has been hospitalised after falling from his bike on the Great Ocean Road. As The Geelong Advertiser reported, the rider was with a group of other cyclists when he ran over a piece of discarded wire and sustained serious injuries.
And a North Queensland woman has been convicted after being caught riding a bicycle while intoxicated. According to The Townsville Bulletin, the 52-year-old cyclist was found by police riding without a helmet or lights on the wrong side of the road. The woman subsequently admitted to riding while drunk and under the influence of cannabis.
Pedalling for Change 