03-06-2025
Grandmother suffers fractured skull, bruising and a bleed on the brain after being run down by cyclist in front of her six-year-old grandchild
A grandmother was left with a fractured skull, bruising and bleeding on the brain after being run down by a cyclist in front of her terrified grandchild.
Janice Hobby-Ford, 62, was carrying shopping across the road near her home in Diglis, Worcester, when she was hit by a bike on May 23.
She had been crossing the heavily congested road at a set of traffic lights when a 'speeding' bike suddenly raced by and crashed into her - sending her sprawling to the ground.
The grandmother-of-seven woke up in Worcestershire Royal Hospital with a bleed on the brain, a fractured skull and a broken shoulder.
Speaking about her traumatic ordeal, he said: 'He could have killed me - I have my son's wedding in August and I look like a state.
'My six-year-old grandchild was blubbing. I'm in so much pain and bruised.
'He was on zig zags and speeding. Even though I stepped out, I wasn't expecting a cyclist.'
Police got to the scene and an ambulance was called, however a man passing by offered to take her to A&E to avoid any wait.
The accident happened as she crossed the lights whilst the cars were stationary even though the lights were on green.
Ms Hobby-Ford was in hospital for three nights before being discharged on May 26 to continue recovering at home.
She said she originally thought the cyclist did not stop at the scene - but has since learned that he did.
She said: 'He hasn't been in touch to say sorry but supposedly he shouted something when we were getting in the car to go to hospital.
'He could have been racing to get home for some reason.
'Maybe he didn't mean it, not everyone in the world is bad.'
She had been crossing the heavily-congested road at a set of traffic lights, pictured, when a 'speeding' bike suddenly raced by and crashed into her - sending her sprawling to the ground
Her husband, Luke Ford, 51, was walking behind her at the time and said he went into 'complete shock' after realising his wife had been knocked out
Her husband, Luke Ford, 51, was walking behind her at the time and said he went into 'complete shock' after realising his wife had been knocked out.
He said: 'I remember picking her up as I thought it was only a light bump.
'Her eye was blown up and she was unconscious.
'I was devastated - I went into complete panic and started focusing on getting her to the hospital.
'I knew she was in a bad way as she kept asking me where she was.
'We then took her to get a CT scan, and she had a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.'
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: 'We received a call around 4:40pm on Friday 23 May with a report of a highway incident on Silver Street in Worcester.
'Officers arrived to find a pedestrian and cyclist involved.
'An investigation is ongoing.'
