THE cyclist who was hit by a car at the William and Rocket Street roundabout on Tuesday has been described as one very lucky man.
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Douglas John Theobald, 67, was catapulted from his road bike as a result of the collision.
Paramedics and police rushed to the scene where forensic officers started their investigation.
It is believed Mr Theobald was travelling south on Rocket Street when the vehicle going up William Street hit him.
Mr Theobald was taken part of the way to Orange Base Hospital before a helicopter completed the emergency mission to get the injured man specialist help.
A member of the well-known Bathurst newsagency family, which runs its business at the corner of Stewart and Rocket Street, Mr Theobald’s brother Robert told the Western Advocate yesterday it was a close call for Douglas.
“He is one very lucky man to be alive,” he said.
“Thankfully he is now recovering in Orange with a punctured lung and cuts and abrasions. However, he did need a full knee construction as a result of the injuries he suffered.
“I guess it means it is the end of my brother’s bike riding days. He’s going to need a lot of physio and recovery time, but I can’t see him getting back on that bike again.”
Robert said many people had been calling into their newsagency asking how Douglas was doing.
“Word spreads pretty quick in a small town like Bathurst,” he said. “It’s been a tough week for our family, especially Mum and Dad. My father only celebrated his 95th birthday (on Thursday). And Mum was pretty emotional about it.”
Robert said Douglas was hit at one of the CBD’s most dangerous intersections.
“I reckon that roundabout at the corner of Rocket and William is the most dangerous one in the city,” he said “I believe this was just an unfortunate accident. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“One thing I think council could do, however, is to do an audit on the amount of vegetation in the middle of the roundabouts to ensure traffic has a clear field of view across to the other side,” he said.