A Colwood family is disputing a police report that suggests their sonB次元官网网址檚 bike wasnB次元官网网址檛 properly illuminated when it crashed into a car earlier this month.

A 20-year-old Colwood man cycling northbound on Island Highway on Dec. 6 at 9:15 p.m., was badly injured after hitting a car making a left turn across traffic into the West Shore Parks and Recreation parking lot.

The West Shore RCMP incident report, gleaned from witness statements, indicated the bike didnB次元官网网址檛 have lights. The parents of the young man say thatB次元官网网址檚 simply not the case B次元官网网址� when they retrieved the badly damaged bike that night, itB次元官网网址檚 front and rear lights were still on, they say.

B次元官网网址淭he lights were still flashing when we picked up the bike,B次元官网网址� said Deborah Kline, mom of the injured cyclist. B次元官网网址淢y son wouldnB次元官网网址檛 go out without proper lights.B次元官网网址�

The 20-year-old, who requested not to be named, hit a four-door Chevrolet and went through the passenger-side window. His parents say he ended up with a broken collarbone and two cracked vertebrae. He needed is ear cartilage resewn, and had stitches and plastic surgery on his neck due to broken glass.

He spent six days in hospital and is recovering at home.

B次元官网网址淭hank goodness he had on a really good helmet, it saved him from serous head injury,B次元官网网址� Kline said. B次元官网网址淎nd one inch the other way and he would have hit the bar between the windows.B次元官网网址�

Kline described her son as a passionate cyclist who understands bike safety, and had worked for a bike shop on the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淢y only hope is that the drivers on the roads, especially at this time of year, drive carefully and are extra vigilant B次元官网网址� not only for other vehicles, but also cyclists and pedestrians,B次元官网网址� Kline said. B次元官网网址淎 split second can change the lives of so many people forever.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com