Geraldton police say elderly bicycle rider suffered life-threatening injuries following car collision

An elderly woman sustained life-threatening injuries after her bicycle and a car collided on Shenton Street on Thursday. Police say about 3.20pm, a 79-year-old woman was riding along a narrow westbound lane on Shenton Street in Beachlands when the driver of a Holden Commodore approached behind the rider and tried to go around her safely. The woman may have veered out of her lane, police said. Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Chris Martin said as the vehicle tried to overtake the rider, the 79-year-old cyclist’s head hit a side-view mirror. “The impact caused the woman to fall and hit her head on the pavement,” he said. Sen. Sgt Martin said it was believed the woman sustained serious injuries including broken ribs and bleeding to the brain. The woman was taken to a Perth hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service on Thursday. Police do not suggest anyone was at fault, but are asking for any witnesses or driver with dash cam footage to contact police. Sen. Sgt Martin said the driver of the Holden Commodore pulled over and contacted police immediately. “Police conducted breath samples and no one was found to be under any influence of drugs or alcohol,” he said. Major crash officers were in Geraldton investigating on Friday.