Keir Starmer crashed into cyclist ‘while trying to perform a u-turn’

Sir Keir Starmer crashed into a cyclist while trying to perform a U-turn close to a busy junction with traffic lights, eyewitnesses have told MailOnline.

The Labour leader, 58, was involved in a collision near his home on Grafton Road, Kentish Town, North London on Sunday on his way to his tailor.

It took place between The Grafton pub and the adjoining OYO Camden hotel with two eyewitnesses claiming that Sir Keir was driving on the opposite side of the road.

They maintain that he slowed down outside the Kentish Town Sports Centre, which is on the opposite side of the road to the pub and the hotel and was attempting to turn his vehicle around when he hit the cyclist. 

Eyewitnesses claimed that the cyclist was a Deliveroo rider who was using a black and white electric bike. A passer-by called an ambulance shortly after 12.08pm on Sunday.

Sir Keir’s office told MailOnline that he was actually trying to park and was not performing a U-turn and that he left the scene only after an ambulance arrived. 

Sir Keir Starmer crashed into a cyclist while trying to perform a U-turn close to a busy junction with traffic lights, eyewitnesses have told MailOnline, though the leader’s office say this is incorrect and he was parking

The Labour leader, 58, was involved in a collision near his home on Grafton Road, Kentish Town, North London on Sunday 

Darryl, 31, who lives just yards from the scene of the accident told MailOnline: ‘I was taking the shopping in and heard a loud noise. I went to see what had happened and saw an SUV across the middle of the road. It appeared as if it was trying to do a U-turn and hit the cyclist who was coming in the opposite direction.’

Electrician Darryl added: ‘There were a few scuff marks on the driver side door. At first the cyclist was on the ground but then he was helped up and sat outside the OYO hotel holding his left arm and crying in pain. I didn’t know who the driver was at the time, but he went over to the cyclist who was shouting at him: ‘How did you not see me?’

‘After the ambulance took him away, somebody padlocked his bike to a lamppost and it was there until Monday night, when it was collected.’

Both sides of the road are marked with double yellow lines close to what is one of the busiest junctions in the area. 

A spokesman revealed that Sir Keir had been in contact with the cyclist on Monday night to apologise and check up on his condition.

The spokesman added: ‘Sir Keir was in the process of trying to park. The eyewitnesses just saw the aftermath of the accident which might explain why his car was across the middle of the road briefly, but he was not trying to do a U-turn. 

Pictured: Grafton Road. Both sides of the road are marked with double yellow lines close to what is one of the busiest junctions in the area

Darryl, 31, who lives just yards from the scene of the accident told MailOnline: ‘I was taking the shopping in and heard a loud noise. I went to see what had happened and saw an SUV across the middle of the road’ (pictured: Grafton Road)

It took place in between The Grafton pub and the adjoining OYO Camden hotel with two eyewitnesses claiming that Sir Keir was driving on the opposite side of the road and was attempting to turn his vehicle around when he hit the cyclist 

‘Sir Keir has been in touch with the cyclist and he stayed at the scene until an ambulance arrived.’

The Labour leader had been on the way to tailor Stitch & Clean before the accident.

Boss Renzo Khan said: ‘This was a private appointment.

‘I was waiting for him to come. He was supposed to come on Sunday, at around 11 or 11.30am but he had this accident and he cancelled it and came on Monday.’ 

It was also revealed that Sir Keir passed his details to an off duty British Transport Community Support Officer and left before officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived.

Darryl, who said he stayed at the scene until the cyclist was taken away to a local hospital for treatment added: ‘Even if Sir Keir was parking, he was still doing a U-turn because he was on one side of the road, swung his car around and hit the cyclist who was coming from the opposite direction.’

Darryl’s partner Sam added: ‘The SUV was across the middle of the road for a few minutes after the accident and then the driver pulled it over to one side because a lot of traffic was building up.

‘He got out of the car, spoke with the cyclist for a few minutes and then eventually left. We didn’t know it was Sir Keir at the time, but it was a stupid and dangerous place to do a U-turn.’