Appeal for witnesses to collision

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Plymouth which left a physically disabled man with serious leg injuries.

The 27-year-old man from Plymouth was crossing the road at Derry’s Cross opposite Grosvenor Casino around 3.10pm on Saturday 13 June when a motorcycle was in collision with his electric wheelchair.

The disabled man sustained serious leg injuries after being knocked out of the wheelchair and was taken to Derriford Hospital. He spent three-and-a-half weeks in hospital and is now recuperating at home.

PC Chris Dixon, from Plymouth’s Safer Roads Support Unit, said: “The circumstances of this collision are exceptionally poignant. The man was left with life-changing injuries in 2005 when his motorcycle left the road and collided with a tree on Tavistock Road near Horrabridge.

“He has regained limited mobility through a lot of hard work and had become able to walk short distances with the aid of another person. This has now been put in jeopardy due to this recent collision, also involving a motorcycle. This has been devastating turn of events for him.

“He is now recovering well at home and remains hopeful that the collision will not have a long-term effect on his mobility which is so precious.”

Police are investigating the collision and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

“It was a busy time of day for the city centre and we would like to hear from anyone who saw the collision or the events leading up to it,” added PC Dixon.

“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen either the motorcyclist, who is believed to have been with another motorcyclist at the time or the man in the wheelchair in the Derry’s Cross area prior to the collision.”

The male rider of the Yamaha YBR 125 motorcycle was uninjured in the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by phoning 101 or email 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk quoting log number 524 of 13/06/15.