The father-of-three suffered severe injuries
A 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a 57-year-old father-of-three was hospitalised in a hit and run on the Lincolnshire border.
Neil Wainwright was cycling on the A616 towards South Muskham at around 6.40pm on Sunday, March 7 when a car crashed into him. The driver left the scene, leaving Neil severely injured on the side of the road where he was found by a member of the public.
He suffered a fractured frontal skull, a neck fracture, ten broken ribs, several lower spinal fractures and a broken pelvis, and he required surgery. He was fighting for his life in hospital for nearly two weeks, but has since been discharged.
Nottinghamshire Police revealed this week that a 43-year-old was arrested on Wednesday, March 17 in Tuxford. He has since been released under investigation.
A 23-year-old man was also interviewed under caution in relation to the collision as police continue their enquiries into the incident.
Detective Constable Sarah Stables, from Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Unit, said: “We have been working around the clock to track down the driver who caused Mr Wainwright such serious injuries and left him at the roadside.
“After lengthy searches on local CCTV and ANPR cameras we were able to track down a vehicle in connection with the incident.”
She added: “It was great to hear that the victim has now been discharged from hospital. He had suffered 10 broken ribs and was in a lot of pain and discomfort, so I’m glad to hear he’s continuing on his path to recovery.”
The victim’s daughters Georgina, Laura and Claire Wainwright had been desperately urging anyone who saw the incident to help with the police investigation.
Georgina recently spoke emotionally about the ordeal, saying: “The whole family is in bits. It’s really shook us to be honest.
“He’s done remarkably well so far, but he’s not out the woods yet and we’re all very much on edge still. He will be in recovery for a long time.
“He’s not just a devoted father, but he is a son and full time carer to his mother who suffers from dementia, a brother, a granddad, an uncle, a friend and a work colleague.
“He’s a big believer of road safety and promotes it to everyone he knows. He was fully equipped on the night of the incident, wearing the right gear in the conditions.”
Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is being urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident 656 of March 7.
Alternatively, it can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A dramatic video shows a car engulfed in flames in the car park at Lincoln County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
An on-call crew from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue attended the scene on Greetwell Road shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, April 13.
The crew used one hose reel to extinguish the fire and fortunately no casualties were reported.
The car is probably a write-off. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Dramatic pictures from the scene show the severe damage that was caused to the front of the car.
Fall in county infections but a Boston spike
There have been 50 new coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday — compared to 58 cases and no deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 26 new cases in Lincolnshire, 19 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.
On Tuesday, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, none in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England has reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust hospitals.
On Tuesday, national cases increased by 2,472 to 4,375,814, while deaths rose by 23 to 127,123.
In local news, people aged over 45 can now book their COVID vaccinations on the NHS website after the government reached its target of offering a first dose to the nine most vulnerable groups.
There were recently some technical difficulties for people accessing the NHS website, but vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the issues have been fixed – book a vaccine online here and find out if you are eligible.
Over the weekend, Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate has fallen, with a spike in Boston only.
Similarly, the England average has also seen a drop in infections, but still remains nearly half Greater Lincolnshire’s rates.
Lincoln has dropped by more than half over the weekend and now has one of the smallest rates in the UK, with just 9.1 per 100,000 of the population infected with COVID-19.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 infection rates up to April 12:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 5 to Apr 12. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, Boris Johnson has warned that the reduction in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths “has not been achieved” by the rollout of COVID vaccines.
The prime minister, speaking the day after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, instead said it was the national shutdown that had been “overwhelmingly important” in driving down COVID rates.
England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third COVID-19 vaccine in the nation’s rollout.
It will be available at 21 sites, included the Madejski Stadium in Reading and the Sheffield Arena.
Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,772 cases (up 50)
2,184 deaths (up three)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (up two)
4,375,814 UK cases, 127,123 deaths
There will be another Kill The Bill protest in Lincoln next week, rallying against a new government bill that diminishes protesting rights.
Protests have been rife across the country since the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was first discussed, with scenes turning violent in Bristol.
Over two hundred people peacefully took part in the city’s first march at Speakers’ Corner on April 3, including Extinction Rebellion activists and Socialist and Labour supporters.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Now, after a post started doing the rounds on social media, another protest has apparently been scheduled for 2pm on Monday, April 17 at the same location on Lincoln High Street, as part of a national day of action.
A poster promoting a second event has been shared across social media platforms.
Protests are lawful once again after the government eased lockdown restrictions on March 29, but organisers are required to submit a risk assessment prior to any event.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Organisers of the last protest were in close communication with police to make the event safe, and The Lincolnite has asked Lincolnshire Police if they have been made aware of another protest, but are yet to receive a reply.
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