Emergency services at the scene on Friday

A cyclist is fighting for his life after a horror crash in Canonbury.

The man, in his 30s, came off his bike after colliding with a car in Essex Road at the junction with Canonbury Street on Friday. 

Police rushed to the scene at 4.45pm afternoon and he was treated there before being taken to hospital. He remains in a life threatening condition.

“I heard a very loud sound outside and saw a car with its windshield fully smashed, and a gentleman lying in the road,” said Malika Chadha, a Canonbury Street resident who called 999.

“It was really awful,” she said. “He was wearing a helmet, the impact must have been serious.”

Police said the Honda Civic driver was assisting with their enquiries. No arrests have been made.

“The guy driving the car looked like he was in shock,” Ms Chadha said. “I feel bad for the person driving the car as well, to see someone that badly injured.

“The bike was badly mangled, one of the wheels had come off. It wasn’t nice to see, I have been freaking out since – every time I step out I feel a bit on edge. I see a lot of cyclists not wearing helmets and I just want to stop them and tell them to put a helmet on,” Ms Chadha said.

Bobby Kasabi, another Canonbury Street resident, saw the immediate aftermath of the crash from his balcony after hearing a noise.

He said: “He had a bike helmet on and pedestrians called the ambulance. They were treating him for almost half an hour. It looked pretty serious, the way the police had closed the road and were taking photos of the scene.”

Mr Kasabi said the car involved in the accident was later towed from the scene.

The car involved in the accident

Edward Dickinson was working at Canonbury Pet Store at the time of the accident. He said the road had been busier than normal that day. “It’s always quite busy, but it was the strikes that day, so there were more cars and people on bikes on the road,” he said.

“It was really serious, hopefully he’s pulled through,” Mr Dickson added.

Owais Nazar, who was working at the Essex Road Post Office at the time, said: “I don’t know if he survived or not, he was injured so badly.”

Catherine Mobley, a resident who saw the aftermath of the crash while on a walk, said she saw a man on a stretcher as she passed, adding she never cycles along Essex Road.

Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating the circumstances. They are particularly keen to hear from any witnesses who saw the collision, or captured it on CCTV or dashcam devices.

Police say they want to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision. Any witnesses yet to speak with police are asked to call the SCIU on 020 8246 9855 quoting ref 5347/19aug.