Hamilton police investigating after video appears to show Tesla car door hit cyclists

Two cyclists cruise down Hamilton's Locke Street when a car door swings open, sending one cyclist flying over the handlebars and the other tumbling over top of them.

That moment was caught on camera nearly a month ago and is now under police investigation.

"It just flew open," Michael Gilroy, one of the cyclists in the video, told CBC Hamilton.

He said it was supposed to be a bike ride like any other. He and his wife ride a few times a week.

"We had just left our place, we were maybe 200 to 300 metres from our apartment," Gilroy said, adding it's the only stretch of the street without cycling infrastructure.

"We were actually riding to a protected bike path."

That's when the car door opened and the cyclists collided right into it.

WATCH | Cyclists appear to collide with open car door

"I didn't have enough time to react," Gilroy said. "It was almost an instant panic of what's to come."

His wife, who was pregnant at the time, was in front of him and felt most of the impact before Gilroy fell over.

The collision didn't impact her pregnancy, but she broke a wrist and smashed her teeth off the road, he said.

Gilroy said he also broke his wrist and two ribs.

Right after the crash, Gilroy said the driver apologized and checked on them, but ended up driving off before Gilroy could ask about their insurance information.

That's when he got a lawyer and police involved.

Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman told CBC Hamilton the matter is still under investigation.

She added officers identified the involved vehicle via surveillance footage to a driver outside Hamilton police's jurisdiction.

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The lawyer working on the case, David Shellnut, said in a statement that Hamilton city council needs to continue to implement safe cycling infrastructure to reduce the risk of collisions like this and the injuries they cause.

"The cost to put in a bike lane is far outweighed by the cost of injuries to people, their families, employers, and our health care system," he said.

He also called on the provincial government to implement better driver training.

"We need more focus in driver training courses on vulnerable road users, and to always be mindful of the serious responsibility that driving a motor vehicle entails."

Reporter

Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Hamilton. He reports on all issues, but has a knack for stories that hold people accountable, stories that focus on social issues and investigative journalism. He previously worked for the National Post and CityNews in Toronto. You can contact him at [email protected].