SAMANTHA McDonald-Haynes was left on the side of the road bloodied and bruised in a cowardly act by a driver on Wednesday.
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The 32-year-old was cycling near Park Street when a car collided with her putting a crack in her carbon fibre bike and destroying it.
The collision left Mrs McDonald-Haynes with a deep cut to her right arm and extensive abrasions all over her body.
The driver of the car left the scene with the injured rider lying on the side of the road.
Mrs McDonald-Haynes admits she was lucky to escape with only minor injuries.
“I was extremely lucky,” she said.“I’ve got a lot of skin off and a fair bit of bruising. It was really scary, I remember turning my head and seeing this car coming and it didn’t have its headlights on.
“And then it hit me, my first thought was that it was on purpose.”
She said the driver stopped and the pair exchanged words before he drove off.
“I was screaming at him because I thought it was a deliberate act,” she said. “He asked if I was OK.
“I asked him why he hit me and he said he didn’t see me. He said he was going to go get help and he never came back.”
Mrs McDonald-Haynes was assisted by two walkers who witnessed the incident.
She said they also believed the driver had no lights on at the time of the accident.
The victim’s husband arrived on the scene and she was taken to the medical centre to treat her injuries.
The battered cyclist said she was out training for the next half Ironman event having competed in the most recent race.
Police reports said Mrs McDonald-Haynes was riding within designated bike lanes at the time of the accident.
“I was doing the right thing,” she said. “I had all the lights on my bike, I was wearing reflective clothing, I was even riding on my own. It’s not like I was riding two abreast.
“I’m just hurt that someone could do that to someone else, just leave them lying hurt on the road.”
The incident comes only days after Port Macquarie Police issued a warning to both motorists and cyclists to take care on our roads.
They said with the danger increased with cooler months approaching and less light in the mornings and afternoons as well as increase traffic on our roads.
They also had a message for the driver involved in the incident.
“Come in and see us, it will be a chance for you to give your side of the story,” a spokesman said. “We understand that sometimes accidents happen, but you should never leave the scene of an accident.”
Police said they had several leads they were investigating.
The driver has been described as a Caucasian male aged between 17 and 20 years old, medium build, clean shaven, with brown, scruffy, curly hair and wearing a black shirt.
The car has been described as a small white car with red P-plates