Police have maintained a "collision" involving an e-bike and pedal cyclist in Oxford did not actually happen, leaving one vocal follower of the incident "puzzled".
The former socialist turned Burkean conservative Peter Hitchens spoke out after a man was hospitalised on Sunday, August 25 due to what was initially described as a "collision" on the Marston cycle path.
This comes as South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) told the Oxford Mail on Wednesday (August 28) last week that two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were sent to the incident and the team treated a male.
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A spokesman had added: "We received a 999 call at 5.19pm on Sunday, August 25 with the caller reporting a collision on the Marston cycle path near St Cross Road/South Parks Road leaving one cyclist seriously injured."
Mr Hitchens, who lives in Oxford, and has been following the incident, has claimed police appear to be "significantly less interested" because it took place on a cycle path rather than a road.
But now, police have said the incident occurred after "a cyclist had used his hand to push another cyclist off his bike" rather than as a result of an e-bike.
This is despite Mr Hitchens suggesting he had been certain an e-bike was involved, based on eye-witness reports he had heard.
A spokesman for the force added: "At no point had the bicycles collided with each other or any pedestrian.
"The victim, a man in his 70s, sustained serious injuries, which required hospital treatment.
"He was discharged on the same day and is well."
The ambulance service initially described the man as an "approximately 60-year-old male".
Last week it was reported it was "not believed that Thames Valley Police attended the incident after their team could find no record of it on their internal database".
But police have now said they did attend the incident at around 5.35pm and suggested to us they have been carrying out their due diligence in relation to the investigation.
The police spokesman added: "Multiple witness accounts were taken from those at the scene when police attended.
"All witnesses were debriefed at the scene, bar one who had left. However, this witness has been contacted and a statement will be taken when they are available.
"Footage is also being sought from CCTV spots in the area."
Mr Hitchens has described the account as "very odd" and "if they had attended the incident why did they tell me (initially) that they had no information".
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101 or report online, quoting 43240408863.
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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