Fiancee of cyclist run over by motorist in alleged deliberate hit says he’s lucky to be alive

The fiancee of a cyclist who has been left partially paralysed after allegedly being deliberately hit by a motorist in a road rage attack in Geraldton says he is lucky to be alive. German man Steve, 31, who does not want his surname used, was on a working holiday with his fiancee Leela — and was due to get married in the Mid West town next month — before he suffered horrific injuries, including a broken neck, in the violent incident on Thursday. He was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital with internal injuries, fractured C6 and C7 vertebrae in his neck, damage to his spine and partial paralysis below his neck after he was allegedly struck by Paul Stuart Meadowcroft in his Isuzu D-Max ute. Steve was last night in a critical condition in hospital. Leela, 28, who is by his side, told The West Australian “really, it’s lucky he is still alive”. The couple had only arrived in Geraldton in January. Steve found work in the crayfishing industry while Leela was working in remedial sports therapy, and they were planning to apply for permanent residency. Leela said those plans — as well as their wedding on May 20 — have now been thrown into disarray, with Steve currently unable to walk and his recovery expected to take months. She said it would be a tough road ahead. “For me it’s really strong to know he’s alive and I can talk to him,” she said. Police say Steve was riding his bicycle on the footpath when he approached the roundabout at Bayly Street and George Road about 1.30pm. Geraldton Magistrate’s Court was on Saturday told there was a “mix up” between the two road users about providing room for the other to pass, and the cyclist was left upset he had not been allowed to go across the road, resulting in him verbally remonstrating with the driver and pulling his middle finger up three times. Mr Meadowcroft, 50, allegedly saw the cyclist’s reaction and 60m up the road did a U-turn, driving back towards the cyclist, crossing over to the wrong side of Bayly Street, mounting the kerb, crossing over the gravel verge and striking the cyclist with his front right bull bar on the footpath. The impact allegedly caused Steve to be thrown five feet in the air and he landed on a nearby fence. Police say at no time did Mr Meadowcroft stop or report the incident, instead he drove home, hooked up his campervan and left Geraldton that evening. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras and police caught up with Mr Meadowcroft the next day at his home and took him into custody. He allegedly made no comment as police tried to interview him. Leela said she had received “great support” from the Geraldton community. “So many nice people have reached out to us,” she said. She said she was planning to start a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help with Steve’s recovery. Mr Meadowcroft abandoned a bail application on Saturday and is due back in court on Thursday.