Christine Marchand, 75, was walking down to the co-op in Whitehawk, Brighton on the evening of October 19 when a teenage boy on an electric Beryl bike crashed into her.
Christine was pushed to the ground and the boy, who Christine estimates was 14-years-old, apologised but said “he couldn’t stop”. He cycled off, leaving Christine unable to move on the ground.
She said: “I didn’t see or hear him because the electric bikes are so quiet. He didn’t try and do a detour to go around me even though the pavement was wide enough. He would have seen me. There’s no excuse.”
Christine was taken to hospital in an ambulance where it was discovered she had a broken wrist and rib as well as cut hands and bruises down her legs and knees.
She said: “I was in terrible pain. I had to stay at my son’s for a week. I couldn’t do anything on my own. I couldn’t get out of bed or the bath on my own because the pain was so bad. It’s difficult to sleep because of the pain in my ribs.
“I have arthritis in my knees and hips and a broke some ribs a couple of months ago when I fell over a garden chair. I was just healing from that and now I’m back to square one.”
The incident has been reported to Sussex police. A spokesman for Sussex police said:
“Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a collision in Whitehawk Road, Brighton.
“The collision involved an e-bike rider and a pedestrian near the junction with Manor Road at about 5.15pm on Saturday, October 19.
“The pedestrian, a 75-year-old woman, sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment, and has since been discharged.
“Meanwhile the e-bike rider, believed to be a teenage boy, was not injured.
“Officers have spoken with her to provide an update on the investigation and to check her welfare.
“Sussex Police are investigating the incident, and want witnesses or anyone with relevant information such as CCTV, dashcam, doorbell or mobile phone footage to come forward.”
Christine has lived in Brighton for 30 years after moving back to the UK from France, where she lived with her late husband. She has five children and seven grandchildren. She had hoped to visit one of her sons in France soon but now doesn’t feel up to doing so.
She said: “I saw the boy who crashed into me doing the same thing the next day – going up and down the pavement. I see young children on them – as young as eight – it’s ridiculous.
“People are riding them on the pavement or through crowds of people – it’s an absolute nightmare.
“Now I’m constantly looking behind me because I’m just so scared of it happening to me again.”
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