Northumbria Police have released an image of a motorcyclist they are seeking after a four-year-old boy was seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision near the seafront in South Shields. The boy remains in hospital, and his family has appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Collision Outside Ocean Beach Pleasure Park
Shortly before 3:30pm on Saturday, police received a report that a motorcycle had collided with a mother and her child as they crossed the road outside the Ocean Beach Pleasure Park. The motorcycle, described as a petrol-powered road bike without a registration plate, fled the scene towards the Westoe Road area.
Emergency services attended, and the child was found to have sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to hospital, where he remains. The mother, aged in her 30s, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to hospital for treatment.
Police Investigation and Appeal
Northumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit has conducted several enquiries, including a review of CCTV footage. On Monday, they released an image of the motorcyclist they want to speak to in connection with the incident.
The family of the boy said in a statement: “We had been enjoying a lovely summer’s day out at the seafront. After enjoying our fish and chips, we began to cross the road towards South Marine Park to buy an ice cream. As we crossed the road towards the pedestrian island, the rider collided with us and then failed to stop. We are urging anyone who saw anything or knows who this person is – including the rider himself – to come forward.”
How to Help
Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, is asked to contact Northumbria Police via social media direct message, the live chat or report forms on the force’s website, or by calling 101.
