Cyclist 'hit by bus' to have arm operated on
A MAN is set to be operated on for a fractured arm after apparently being hit by a bus while cycling to work in the centre of Belfast.
John Ford, 45, from Portadown, was cycling from a friend's house when he claims to have been hit by a bus.
The father of three, who said the incident happened on Monday morning, works in Allstate,formerly known as Northbrook, in Belfast.
"I was cycling down the road when I was hit by a bus," he said. "It really took it out of me.
"I knew soon after it happened that I was injured because my arm was so sore. I later found out I have two fractures to my forearm."
Mr Ford, an IT professional, said he now hopes to have his arm operated on this Friday.
"I knew there was something wrong with my arm when I went down. I knew it was fractured because of the pain."
Mr Ford said after the accident he "picked himself up off the ground".
"The bus stopped at the lights and I walked up to the doors of the bus and I asked the driver, 'Did you not see me in the lane?'
"He said something about the width of the bus.
"I was pretty dazed. He then said something after that but I don't know what it was now.
"I asked him if I could walk in front of the bus and onto the footpath but he closed the doors and took off.
"I managed to get myself over to the footpath because I knew I was injured and needed to steady up.
"The driver never even asked me if I was OK. The lights just turned green and he drove off.
"The whole time he was talking to me he just sat in the driver's seat and never got out to help me.
"I then made my way into work and asked someone to give me a lift to the Royal Victoria Hospital to find out why I was in such pain."
Mr Ford, who is off work because of his injuries, said he has been given "heavy painkillers".
"I am getting surgery to have my arm pinned or wired or whatever technique they are going to use on Friday," he said.
"I really cannot move it. It is pretty sore and I can't lift anything."
Police have confirmed that they received a report of a minor road traffic collision involving a cyclist and a bus on Monday.
A PSNI spokesman said they received a report about the collision at 2pm on Monday, although it had happened much earlier in the day.
The PSNI spokesman said: "Police are now investigating the incident which led to the cyclist being taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital with a fracture."
A Translink spokesman said: "We cannot confirm that one of our buses was involved in this incident."
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Weather for Belfast
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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