Winnipeg cyclist injured in hit and run hopes driver 'does the right thing'

A Winnipeg cyclist who was the victim in a weekend hit and run on a busy Winnipeg street hopes the driver does the right thing and comes forward.

Joseph Henry was riding home from his job at Polo Park Shopping Centre on Saturday afternoon when he was hit at St. James Street and Sargent Avenue.

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"All I remember is him slamming on his brakes and stopping and then I hit the front hood of his car," he said. "I remember rolling along his hood and I remember when I came up to the pavement I put my hands up to try and protect my face."

Henry's left hand now requires surgery while his right hand is badly sprained. He also suffered scrapes to his face and hurt his back after hitting the ground. He wasn't wearing a helmet but doesn't believe he got a concussion. He will also need physiotherapy on his hand and is off work for the time being. 

"Right after it happened I was in shock. I didn't even feel the pain right away," Henry said Monday. "I just kind of got up ... then I went on the side where the grass was and laid down on the grass for five minutes." 

'Why is nobody helping me?'

Henry said not one person stopped to help him or make sure he was OK. He got up and walked to a nearby store and washed up before flagging down a cab to get home. 

"I was laying there for five minutes, vehicles were driving by. They probably just saw me laying on the side. Nobody came to help me or anything," he said. "Honestly I was kind of a little shocked, 'why is nobody helping me?'" 

Henry reported the incident to police, however he doesn't remember much about the vehicle or driver involved, other than that it was a black two-door vehicle, perhaps a Pontiac Sunfire or a Chevrolet Cavalier. Winnipeg police confirm they were made aware of the collision. 

I think it's just inhuman when someone doesn't stop.- Joseph Henry, injured in hit and run 

"I'm just really upset and I think it's just inhuman when someone doesn't stop," Henry said. "When you cause something or are a part of something the least he should do is check on the person." Henry said he assumes the driver was a man.

"He was probably in shock himself too, he was probably scared and drove off." 

Henry said his bike now needs a new front tire and his brakes and handlebars were also damaged. 

Nervous about biking again  

But even though he enjoys biking and the 20-minute bike ride from his West End home is much faster than the 45-minute bus ride, he isn't sure he's ready to get back on his bike just yet. 

"I'll probably just go back to bussing I'm thinking," he said. "I don't want to really bike. There's been a few close calls before."

If Henry does get back on his bike, he said said he'll be going a lot more slowly and will definitely being doing one thing he didn't do before. He hopes other cyclists realize the dangers of biking in the city and wear extra safety protection. 

"I'm definitely going to be nervous now. I don't even bike that fast," he said. "I'm definitely going to wear a helmet [from now on]."

Henry said he's just thankful he wasn't run over and injured more severely. 

"I consider myself very lucky," he said. "It could have been a lot worse."