Two injured by scrambler bike on pavement
Two men have been hurt after a scrambler bike mounted a pavement in Aintree on Sunday afternoon.
Two men have been hurt after a scrambler bike mounted a pavement in Aintree on Sunday afternoon.
Officers spotted a scrambler bike which was speeding along Queens Drive towards the city, the rider of the bike, who was not wearing a helmet, was also observed by the police helicopter doing wheelies on the road and going through a number of red traffic lights.
The bike, which was being monitored by the police helicopter, was seen being driven at speed in the Anfield, Everton, Walton, Tuebrook, Norris Green areas and at one point was observed driving against traffic on the wrongside of the East Lancashire Road before heading towards Warbreck Moor.
As the bike travelled along Ormskirk Road it went through the traffic lights at the junction of Park Lane and mounted the pavement where it collided with two men who were walking along the pavement.
One of the men, who was 56-years-old, suffered a cut to the head and was taken to hospital where he is being treated for the injury, which is not believed to be serious. The second pedestrian, who was 54-year-old declined medical treatment.
The rider of the bike, a 24-year-old man from Anfield, is believed to have suffered a fractured skull and he was taken to hospital, where he is currently being treated.
Officers who were in a patrol car travelling out of the city on Ormskirk Road, when the incident occurred on the opposite side of the carriageway, provided first aid at the scene.
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland, said:
"Our inquiries into this incident are at an early stage but we believe the scrambler bike was being ridden in a dangerous and anti-social way on major roads around the city prior to the collision.
"It is through sheer luck that neither of the pedestrians who were hit by the bike, was seriously injured. It is only a matter of time before someone is killed as a result of this type of behaviour.
"Recently we have seen an increase in the dangerous and anti social use of scrambler bikes on our roads and this is putting other road users and pedestrians at risk. These people have no regard for anyone but themselves and don’t care about the risk they pose to others.
"I would like to appeal to anyone who saw the bike, particularly any drivers on the East Lancashire Road at about 4.40pm who saw the bike being driven against the traffic to come forward.
"The rider of the bike was wearing a camouflage jacket, a scarf covering his face and no helmet, if you saw this bike being driven in anti-social manner between 4.15pm and 4.45pm please come forward.”
ACC Holland, added:
“In the coming days, weeks and months, we will continue to take pro-active action against those involved in the criminal use of scrambler bikes on our roads. We will do everything possible to locate and seize suspected stolen or nuisance bikes and arrest those who are putting the safety of others at risk.
"Since the beginning of October 35 bikes have been seized, 19 search warrants executed and 16 people have been arrested as part of Operation Brookdale. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure communities across Merseyside that we understand their concerns about scrambler bikes and will be relentless in our efforts to tackle them.
“Such behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside and our response reflects how seriously we take this issue.
"The continued action is thanks to information from our community. I would urge anyone with information which could help us take these bikes out of circulation and make our streets safer to keep coming forward.”