Smashed knee of hit and run victim

RECOVERING ... Colin Rainford.

A HEROIC father suffered a permanent knee injury when he was hit by a speeding car after dramatically pushing his partner to safety.

Colin Rainford (54) and his partner Beth were in Peel Street, Chadderton when he noticed two cars approaching at speed.

The father-of-three managed to heroically push Beth out the way before the car, with the passenger door open, slammed into his leg.

He said: “The cars were one behind the other. It looked as if one was trying to overtake, but I wasn’t paying them that much attention.

“When the first car was about 30 yards from me, it seemed to change direction. It seemed to be pulling up alongside me, so I pushed Beth out of the way. The passenger door opened and my left leg was caught by the edge of the door. I tried to jump out of the way but I remember getting hit and being flipped into the air.

“The cars just carried on driving towards Middleton Road with no hesitation — they did not brake or stop.”

Electrical engineer Colin, of Lansdowne Road, Chadderton, spent five days at the Royal Oldham Hospital while doctors rebuilt his knee with metal plates.

The only description he could give was that the car that hit him was yellow — larger than an Vauxhall Corsa but smaller than a Vauxhall Astra.

He said he believes the incident was intentional and is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He said: “The impact has destroyed my knee joint. I will have to use crutches for three months and the doctor said I will develop chronic arthritis in the next few years.

“They intended to knock me over: I saw the passenger holding the door open. The car twitched towards me and then the door opened. There was no doubt they intended to do it.

“I’m annoyed. It was a mindless thing to do and I’m thoroughly cheesed off. I’ve never upset anyone and police have checked CCTV in Asda and no one was following me. At the moment there are no witnesses.”

Det Insp Dave Massey, from Oldham CID, described the case as “very strange”.

He said: “There is absolutely no reason for this incident which we are treating as a serious assault.

“It appears that it is either mistaken identity or youths messing about thinking they wouldn’t harm anyone. I am sure they would have told someone about it as a bit of a laugh.”

A police investigation has been launched and anyone who witnessed the incident should call Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111 or Oldham CID 0161-856-8951.