I witnessed a really nasty incident today which has left me shaken, so I can't imagine how awful the poor woman to whom it actually happened is now feeling.
I was in my car queuing in traffic at some lights, one lane for left turns and one for right. Woman on pushbike in high vis in front of me in right turn lane, car next to her in left turn lane. (All stationary) Suddenly the the car driver door opens and nearly hits the cyclist. I assumed it was an accident and the driver had decided to open his door for some reason and not seen that she was there. She held up her hand as if to say "ok". Then the car door opens again and a man's head comes out and he says something to her, but she doesn't respond. A few seconds later the lights change and we all start moving then all of a sudden, the car swerves straight towards the cyclist! She is in the middle of our lane and the car comes right over from the left, fast and aggressively towards her and also right in my path as I am directly behind her. I sound my horn in a lame attempt to distract him or shock him into stopping as it really seems as though he's trying to kill her. I was amazed she wasn't hit. The car then speeds off with the driver shouting abuse at the poor woman he's nearly just run over. She makes it over to the side of the road, crying.
I parked as soon as I could and ran over to her, fortunately she was already on the phone to the police and we'd both noted his registration and description. I spoke to the police too to confirm I'd witnessed what had happened and they said they may contact me at a later date. After a quick chat and hug with the poor lady who was still shaking violently I left - she said she didn't need a lift home as she lived close by and would be ok getting there.
I can't stop thinking about what happened now and am regretting us not swapping numbers in case she wants to ask for details that she might not have seen or remembered due to the suddenness and shockingness of it all. And obviously I'd also like to know if she's ok.
I really want this arsehole caught and charged with something! He's clearly very dangerous. He also had an elderly lady as a passenger so didn't seem to have any regard for her either. I want to make sure that the police know this wasn't him just trying to scare the cyclist (although that would be bad enough) but that he genuinely seemed to be trying to knock her down. WIBU to contact them again? Will they tell me anything? Just going by the tone of voice of the person on the phone they didn't seem to think it was maybe as bad as it was.... And they said they 'might' contact me for more info. I really want reassurance that they're going to take this seriously.
The whole thing was just so horrible and it's terrifying to think there are people like him are out there prepared to do stuff like this.