Cyclist seriously injured in Berkeley hit-and-run

Paramedics placed a man onto a gurney at the scene of a hit-and-run accident at University and McGee avenues, in Berkeley, on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The victim was riding a bicycle. Photo: David Yee — Paramedics put a man on a gurney after a hit-and-run at University and McGee avenues Tuesday. The victim was on a bicycle. Photo: David Yee

A cyclist remains in the hospital with serious injuries after he was struck by a driver who left the scene in Berkeley on Tuesday night.

Police have released minimal details about the incident.

Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said the accident took place just before 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, on University Avenue at McGee Avenue.

Coats said by email that dispatchers received calls about an injury collision involving a vehicle and cyclist, as well as reports that the driver had fled the scene.

The bicyclist suffered serious injuries and was still in the hospital as of about 7 p.m. Wednesday.

“We are investigating this as a hit and run with injuries,” Coats said in an email.

She was unable to provide directions of travel, or any information about the cyclist who was injured, or the circumstances of the crash.

Coats said Wednesday that the case had not yet been entered into the department’s computer system, so few details were available.

According to scanner audio recordings reviewed by Berkeleyside, an officer who responded to the scene Tuesday night said the cyclist was down in the street and appeared to be unconscious. According to one report, he was “bleeding heavily from the head.”

Berkeley paramedics took the cyclist by ambulance, using lights and sirens, to Highland Hospital for treatment, according to the scanner.

Witnesses told police the involved vehicle was a four-door white sedan that may have had dealer license plates and was last seen heading east on University.

Berkeleyside will update this story if police provide additional information.

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Emilie Raguso