Politicians and locals have expressed their concerns after a cyclist was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a crash with a motorcycle in the city.
The incident occurred on Monday morning in Banbury Road close to Summertown Cycles as a teenage schoolboy riding a bicycle and a moped were involved in a collision.
Thames Valley Police closed the road for hours while an air ambulance landed before a land ambulance transported the victim to hospital.
The full extent of the boy’s injuries have not yet been confirmed by the emergency services who warned the public to stay away from the area while investigations were carried out.
READ MORE: Police close road and ambulance arrives after 'boy on bike hit'
A police spokesperson said yesterday morning: “Banbury Road in Summertown is currently closed in both directions between Oakthorpe Road and Beechcroft Road due to a serious road traffic collision involving a moped and a bicycle.
“The cyclist has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“The road is likely to remain closed for several hours while investigations are underway.
“We would ask the public to please avoid the area and find alternative routes while emergency services are dealing with the incident.”
READ MORE: Public issued with 'STAY AWAY' warning amid police incident
An eyewitness anonymously told the Oxford Mail about her horror at seeing the incident unfold in front of her.
She said: “It was shocking, the sound of the impact was loud enough to be heard about 20 meters away and was hard enough to break the bicycle into pieces.
“The motorbike must have been going very fast.
“Many of the witnesses were very shocked but multiple people came to help the boy, giving them their coats to keep him warm, calling the ambulance and police.
“I was impressed by how many members of the public came to help.”
READ MORE: Teen boy on bicycle hospitalised after 'serious' moped crash
City councillor Katherine Miles, who represents the Summertown ward, said: “My thoughts are with those involved in the collision. The fact a child was involved is even more distressing.
“As a parent as well as councillor, I want Oxford to be a place where a child or indeed anyone of any age can safely walk or cycle without fear of injury.
"The community is incredibly concerned about the welfare of those involved in the collision and we all hope for the best outcome.
“Everyone's thoughts are with them. It is a neighbourhood where people should be able to go about their daily lives.
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“The fact this has happened in an area where many people do walk or go by bike means people are feeling it could have been them as well.
“It is an area of high footfall so most people in Summertown can relate to this.
"We do not want any more tragedies on our roads as we want to live in a safe place where people can go out on foot or bike without fearing serious injuries."
A number of schools and nurseries in the Banbury Road area have been contacted for comment including St Edward's School, The Oxford Nursery Summertown, The Cherwell School and Oxford High School.
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