Megan Barnes flew between 25 and 30 feet in the air after a pick-up truck hit her bicycle while she was training in Saanich late Friday afternoon.

That is what witnesses are telling her about the incident that happened as she and her training partner were preparing to climb a hill on Willis Point Road.

B次元官网网址淚 remember everything from the time I turned onto [Willis Point Road from Wallace Drive] and got hit, but I donB次元官网网址檛 remember anything between the time I got hit and when I ended up in the ditch,B次元官网网址� Barnes, a North Saanich resident, said Sunday afternoon.

Police are currently looking for a heavy set woman with blonde hair, who witnesses say was driving the charcoal grey Dodge Dakota that hit Barnes. According to multiple accounts, the driver drove into the back of BarnesB次元官网网址� bicycle, then left the scene of the incident without stopping.

B次元官网网址淚t was a wide road and there was lots of room for both of us,B次元官网网址� said Barnes.

Sherry Barnes, MeganB次元官网网址檚 mother, struggled to hold back her anger talking about the incident on Sunday at the velodrome facility in Colwood. B次元官网网址淎s a parent right now, I canB次元官网网址檛 believe someone targeted my child and left her in the ditch,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unacceptable.B次元官网网址�

The incident saw Barnes taken to hospital having suffered tissue damage to her left leg plus multiple bruises and contusions along her lower back and elbows.

Perhaps less clear is the long-term effect of the incident.

Tripleshot Cycling Club Lister Farrar said Barnes appears in B次元官网网址渟urprisingly good spiritsB次元官网网址� considering everything that happened, describing her as a B次元官网网址渢ough kid.B次元官网网址� But he also said that the incident might exact a mental toll. B次元官网网址淪he is going to be gun-shy (about riding) for a while,B次元官网网址� he said.

Barnes, who sounded anxious to get back out on her bike, appeared aware of that possibility. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping that it wonB次元官网网址檛 impact me very much in my cycling,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 tell. I have not been on the bike since (Friday).B次元官网网址�

A national-level cyclist, Barnes plans to compete for Canada, possibly at the Summer Olympic Games in 2024. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping that this hit-and-run wonB次元官网网址檛 impact my goal.B次元官网网址�

Since word of the incident spread, two other Greater Victoria men who are competitive cyclists have reported that they experienced a similar aggressive driving incident in the area, with a vehicle that may match the description of the truck involved in FridayB次元官网网址檚 hit-and-run.

Farrar said one of the two men crashed into the back of the truck when the driver slammed on the brakes after overtaking the riders. The second rider sped after the vehicle and took a snapshot of the vehicle and licence plate, which he passed on to police.

B次元官网网址淭here is an element of the motoring public that feels that cyclists donB次元官网网址檛 have a right,B次元官网网址� Farrar said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to give your head a shake, youB次元官网网址檙e driving a one-ton vehicle and youB次元官网网址檙e going to threaten someone dressed in sports clothes and running shoes? It just doesnB次元官网网址檛 make any sense at all that people have that kind of road rage.B次元官网网址�

Farrar said he is now hopeful that people will come forward with information about the driver and the vehicle, which broke the back axle of BarnesB次元官网网址� bike.

Barnes said she did not see the truck approach her from behind. B次元官网网址淚 was focused on getting up Willis Point Road,B次元官网网址� she said.

The hit propelled Barnes through the air and down a grassy embankment, where she came to rest. Farrar said Barnes was lucky, as the grass cushioned the impact.

Told by her doctor to get plenty of rest, Barnes is working through what happened to her. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 getting used to the fact that IB次元官网网址檝e been hit by a car.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� With files from Don Descoteau/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff