Man injured after being struck by car at crossing in Plymouth

Tom Swain was on his way to work - at Plymouth Crown Court - when he said he was struck by a vehicle as he crossed pelican crossing

A young man who said he was struck by a car as he used a pelican crossing is hoping people can help him trace the driver responsible. Tom Swain was on his way to work at Plymouth Crown Court on the morning of March 17, shortly after 8.30am, when he used the pelican crossing on Wolseley Road.

However, as the 24-year-old stepped onto the crossing he was struck by a grey Honda Civic which was speeding towards him. Tom says his feet and hand were hit by the vehicle.

Tom told PlymouthLive: "The car pulled over and I went up to the driver asking what he thought he was doing. The car had gone over my feet and struck my hand - while I was on the actual crossing.

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"He'd been doing about 30 or 40mph - a lot of people come belting around the roundabout really fast and don't give enough time to stop before the crossing. If I'd been one more step across I've have been over the bonnet or under the wheels.

Unfortunately, Tom said the driver who gave their name to him appeared to have given a false one. He hopes that someone may have seen the incident or knows the driver involved.

He said: "The man said he was Kevin Hart and gave a phone number. But my adrenaline was running, I was shaking from the pain from my feet and hand and didn't realise he'd didn't give me a full number and the name does not match the vehicle. He had a female passenger in the car - probably aged between 17 and her early 20s."

Tom took a photo of the suspect at the time as well as pictures of the car and its number-plate. He passed all these images onto police to assist them with their inquiries.

Details provided by Tom to the police have since revealed that the motorist in question in this incident was driving with no insurance, no road tax, along with the false details - all of which are criminal offences. He said: "I spoke to police later who said that day they'd been on an operation and had found 15 drivers with no insurance - It's really worrying - if you're hit by a driver with no insurance then you have no recourse."

Tom needed to undergo medical attention, including X-rays on his wrist, following the incident which he described as "terrifying". He said: "I see many children, dog walkers and elderly people using this crossing, so I want to stop people like him from putting others at risk."

It is hoped that someone may be able to assist police with their investigation into the incident. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting police log number 188 of 17/3/2022.

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