Terrifying moment Tour de Yorkshire volunteer dodges out of control car by inches


THIS is the terrifying moment a Tour de Yorkshire volunteer is almost ploughed into by an out-of-control car.

A Team Astana vehicle smashed through a traffic island at high speed and missed Philip Sullivan, dressed in a hi-vis jacket and waving a luminous flag, by inches on the fourth and final day of the event.

A Tour de Yorkshire volunteer narrowly dodges an out of control car
A Tour de Yorkshire volunteer narrowly dodges an out of control car
Twitter: nathlukecurrie

Footage shows the leading group of cyclists race round a bend as they travel towards the finish line in Leeds.

A number of vehicles follow and swerve the volunteer but one car, carrying a full bike rack, veers into the island and crashes through the signposts.

Sullivan manages to dive out of the way at the last moment, but if it were not for his quick reflexes he would surely have suffered serious injuries.

The race marshal said he was “shaken but unhurt” and worried about the driver of the car.

Philip Sullivan stands in a hi-vis jacket and waves an luminous flag during the Tour de Yorkshire
Philip Sullivan stands in a hi-vis jacket and waves an luminous flag during the Tour de Yorkshire
Twitter: nathlukecurrie
Philip Sullivan waves his luminous flag while stood on a traffic island to help steer cyclists
Philip Sullivan waves his luminous flag while stood on a traffic island to help steer cyclists
Twitter: nathlukecurrie
An out of control Team Astana car veers towards the traffic island
An out of control Team Astana car veers towards the traffic island
Twitter: nathlukecurrie
The Team Astana car smashes through the traffic island and both signposts
The Team Astana car smashes through the traffic island and both signposts
Twitter: nathlukecurrie
Team Astana have issued an apology to Philip Sullivan after almost crashing into him
Team Astana have issued an apology to Philip Sullivan after almost crashing into him
Twitter: nathlukecurrie

Team Astana claimed they were trying to get in touch with Sullivan to apologise.

A statement read: “The sport director that was driving the car contacted the race organiser directly after the race to send our apologies.

“We’re sorry and want this to never happen again.”

A record 2.6million fans watched the Tour de Yorkshire – which stretches 117.7 miles – over four days.

The Tour de Yorkshire began in May 2015 and was watched by 9.7million viewers worldwide this year.

Norway’s Lars Petter Nordhaug won the inaugural race while Serge Pauwels of Belgium was last year’s winner.


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