A 10-year-old boy was horrifically injured with his “nose hanging off” after an electric bike crashed into him.
Carter Ralph was playing on the pavement outside his home in Leicestershire on October 30, when the e-bike collided into him.
The rider got back on his bike and rode off, leaving the child covered in “horrendous” injuries.
Carter’s mum, Nadine Ralph, told the Telegraph: “I was inside the house and heard Carter scream. I jumped up and ran outside.
“There was blood everywhere, all over Carter’s face and on the ground. It was horrendous.
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“At first I thought he didn’t have an eyeball, his eyelid was completely covering his one eye. His nose was hanging off.
“He looked like he had been badly beaten up, he was so battered and bruised. His chest also had a large yellow and blue bruise where I think the bike handlebars had hit him, flipping the cyclist off.”
Carter was taken to hospital where he had to undergo two operations and required extensive stitching to his nose, mouth and eyelid.
Doctors have expressed satisfaction with his recovery so far, but his mother says the emotional trauma has left Carter “petrified” of being outside near cyclists.
The hit-and-run incident has intensified demands for regulatory action on electric bicycles, with Nadine now joining others in urging the government to implement laws aimed at cyclists who flout road rules.
The growing popularity of e-bikes has led to increasing concerns over illegally modified models, which can exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5 mph when remapped, posing potential dangers to pedestrians.
Nadine and other advocates argue that such incidents highlight the need for stricter regulation of e-bike modifications and enforcement of bike-on-pavement laws, especially given the weight and speed capabilities of electric bicycles.
Leicestershire Police have confirmed that they are investigating the hit-and-run incident and are reviewing CCTV footage.
“The person riding the bike left the scene following the incident,” a police spokesperson said.
“Our investigation remains ongoing, including speaking with the boy and his family, conducting house-to-house enquiries, and analysing CCTV.”
