MOTORCYCLIST Gary Wall was left for dead when a van driver knocked him off his bike in heavy traffic in Leyland.

As he lay dazed on the ground after being hit by the van, Euxton man Gary claims he looked up to see the vehicle speeding off, and the driver turning out the lights so that his registration number couldn't be read.

Gary's wife Jane, of Regentsway, said: "Fortunately Gary wasn't badly hurt, but the driver of the van didn't know that. He was more bothered about himself."

Now the couple are appealing to people who witnessed the collision to contact police so they can trace the driver.

The van hit Gary at the busy A49/Dawson Lane junction in Leyland at 6.20am last Friday, when it was still dark. But the road was already busy with traffic. He suffered cuts and bruises in the accident, but Jane said: "The driver just stuck his head out of the window and told Gary to move.

"He didn't even ask how he was. Fortunately he wasn't too hurt but it could have been much worse."

Jane added: "What really upset us was that the driver set off again and turned his lights off to hide his number plate. I know some people panic when they have been involved in an accident, but this man was calculating enough to turn his lights off.

"Only one other driver stopped, the others just drove around Gary lying in the road."

Police have one clue in the hunt for the van - the wing mirror which fell off in the collision.

Chorley traffic police, who cover the Leyland area, have appealed for information. Call (01257) 269021.

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