A competitive cyclist is fighting for his life after undergoing surgery for a traumatic brain injury following a horrific crash on Sydney’s northern beaches on Tuesday morning.
Another rider was seriously injured in the incident after they were reportedly hit by a car driven by a P-plater on Forest Way in Belrose at around 6.10am – with police investigating whether the driver was speeding.
It was dark when Nick Sky, 47, and Michael Collings, 56, both from Sydney’s North Shore, started their regular training for Masters races later in the year.
The crash left their bikes mangled on the side of the road, while Mr Sky underwent surgery, fell into a coma and fought for life, while Mr Collings suffered multiple fractures and a dislocated shoulder.
Mr Sky’s son Lachlan, who is also a competitive rider, was cycling to work when he received the devastating news about his father and arrived at the scene looking visibly shaken and distraught.
Competitive cyclist Nick Sky (pictured) is fighting for his life after undergoing surgery for a traumatic brain injury following a horrific crash on Sydney’s northern beaches on Tuesday morning
Michael Collings (pictured), 56, suffered multiple fractures and a dislocated shoulder
Local man Rob Arnold said there was ‘quite a lot of debris on the road’.
“And I just saw the vehicle that appears to be involved, and it doesn’t look good. It’s really disturbing,” he said.
The Subaru station wagon involved suffered serious windscreen damage as a result of the impact, making the 24-year-old driver now an important part of this investigation.
The driver was taken for mandatory blood tests.
No charges have been filed yet.
Mr Sky and Mr Collings were both taken to Royal North Shore Hospital after the accident.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said an ambulance emergency helicopter with a medical trauma team on board had landed at nearby Wyatt Reserve in response to the crash.
Forest Way was closed in both directions for a time at the intersection with Wyatt Ave, causing major delays while emergency services worked to clear the area.
Shattered parts of the men’s bicycles were strewn across the northbound lanes as officers from the NSW Police Crash Investigation Unit began their investigation.
The crash left their bikes (pictured) mangled on the side of the road, while Mr Sky underwent surgery, was in a coma and fought for his life
Mr Sky’s son Lachlan, who is also a competitive cyclist, was cycling to work when he received the devastating news about his father and arrived at the scene looking visibly shocked and distraught. Mr. Sky is on the right of the photo