Baby born in serious condition after pregnant mother struck by e-bike in hit-and-run

A baby was born in a serious condition after a pregnant woman was hit by an e-bike, which failed to stop at the scene of the crash in Poole.

The mother, who is in her thirties, went to hospital for treatment on Monday after the e-bike collided with her on Herbert Avenue, near the junction with Manor Avenue.

She did not have serious injuries, but her baby was born in hospital and remains in a serious condition.

The rider of the e-bike failed to stop at the scene. Dorset Police told The Independent that no arrests have been made so far.

Dan Blagden, from the roads policing team, said: “We are carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of this collision, and I would urge any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please contact us.”

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The incident took place at around 3.50pm on Monday.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have captured relevant dashcam footage or witnessed the manner of the riding of the e-bike prior to the collision,” PC Blagden said.

“We understand there was a pillion passenger on the e-bike at the time of the incident and we would ask this person and the rider to come forward and speak to police."

Officers investigating the incident have asked for anyone with information to contact Dorset Police online, or by calling 101.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling freephone 0800 555 111.

E-bikes are bikes with a rechargeable battery and an electric motor. A legal e-bike must have its electric assistance motor cut off at 15.5mph in the UK.

Last September, surgeons warned that e-bike injuries were causing a “massive burden” on hospitals, with Royal London Hospital’s orthopaedics trauma ward seeing 150 cases caused by e-bike accidents over a six-month period.

Surgeons said injuries, including broken bones, were not uncommon due to the speed at which people fall off the bikes.