Witness appeal after cyclist dies in hit-and-run

Tom Airey
BBC News, Yorkshire
Jonathan Reed/ BBC A long, straight road stretching into the distance. On the right is thick hedgerow and trees. A police car is parked on the right of the road. Orange and white cones line the middle of the road and a police van is parked in the distance. Jonathan Reed/ BBC
The cyclist died at the scene of the crash near Micklefield, Leeds, police say

Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with footage from the scene to come forward after a cyclist died in a hit-and-run crash in Leeds.

The man, who was in his 40s, was cycling on Ridge Road, near Micklefield, at about 14:00 BST on Monday when he was hit by a white VW Golf which was being driven in the same direction.

The cyclist died at the scene of the crash, which happened near Ridge Road Energy, with the car later being found abandoned and burnt out in Potternewton.

Two males were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and officers wanted to hear from anyone who saw the Golf before or after the crash, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said.

The collision took place on a long and straight single carriageway section of the road, with both the cyclist and the car travelling away from the Great North Road at the time, they added.

Jonathan Reed/ BBC A long, straight road stretching into the distance. On the left is thick hedgerow and trees, on the right is farm and industrial buildings. There is a police van parked on the left of the road. A yellow sign with a blue circle and white arrow is in front of the van. A yellow sign and orange and white cone is on the grass next to the road. The sky is blue with light clouds. Jonathan Reed/ BBC
The cyclist, a man in his 40s, died at the scene of the crash

Det Insp Paul Conroy, of the force's major collision inquiry team, said: "I would urge anyone who may have seen a white Volkswagen Golf travelling from the Garforth area to Chapeltown at around the time to please come forward.

"Likewise, anyone who may have video footage of the car. It would have noticeable and significant damage to its front and a severely damaged windscreen."

Anyone with information or footage was asked to contact police online, by phone via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

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