Winchester nurse told she may never fully recover after being cut up by runaway driver

Sarah West has been told by doctors she may never make a full recovery after breaking her thigh, with physios predicting it could take between six months and a year before she’ll be fully mobile again.

The 42-year-old has also had to take at least three months off work while she recovers. The police are investigating the collision.

READ MORE HERE: 'Cruel, controlling and obsessive' Winchester hospital doctor suspended after tribunal

Mrs West was cycling from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital after her shift at around 7.45pm on Wednesday January 19 when a car pulled out in front of her on Burma Road, even though she was wearing a high vis jacket and her bike had lights.

She told the Chronicle: “I was starting off the big rush that comes from the hospital at that time of night because everyone finishes around half seven, quarter to eight.

“He (the driver) was coming up the hill and I was coming down and he just turned without looking, making me brake and crash my bike.

“The guy did initially stop and ask if I was OK, but I was just screaming and crying in pain. Then a load of doctors and nurses arrived which is when he must have left.

“People do this stuff all the time, I’ve seen so many drivers pull out in front of cyclists and pedestrians, and they just need to be so much more careful.

“I’m lucky that I was wearing helmet because my head smacked off the ground when I fell – I had no idea which way was up.

“When you’re falling off your bike you think you would put your hands out, but in reality, you’ve got no control, my bike ended up on top of me and people had to lift it off.”

Mrs West was also left badly cut and bruised and had to spend 11 nights on the trauma unit in Southampton General Hospital.

She’s since been discharged and is being looked after at home by her husband and two teenage children.

The incident was captured on CCTV, but unfortunately the footage wasn’t clear enough to make out the driver’s number plate.

However, Mrs West believes it may have been a taxi or an Uber because of the distinctive white sign on top of the car.

“I don’t want this guy to lose his job, I don’t even want him to get into loads of trouble – I might not even press charges,” she said. “I just mainly want to be able to get some insurance because this is going to cost me a lot of time and money.

“I can’t clean my house, I can’t get anywhere without a taxi, and my bike is absolutely wrecked, and I’d only just finished paying it off through the cycle to work scheme in January.

“I’ve also got responsibilities at work, and it just feels like I’ve had to abandon them.

“I lead a team which is in charge of reducing the number of term babies being admitted to baby units – it’s really important to me and if I’m not there I just feel like my project won’t be finished.”

SEE ALSO: Tree surgeon falls out of tree on Mead Road in Winchester

Hampshire Police have since released an appeal in hope of finding the driver.

A spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report of a collision on Burma Road, Winchester, which happened around 7.45pm on Wednesday January 19.

“The collision involved a cyclist and black saloon car, which was coming out of the reception car park of the university.

“The cyclist, a woman in her 40s, suffered a serious leg injury.

“Officers are working to identify the driver of the black saloon car. If this was you, or you have any information about the incident, then please call 101, quoting the reference 44220028835.”

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news from Winchester by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page, click this link and hit like.

Kimberley Barber