THE woman who was injured with her friend when they were knocked from their bikes by a driver on drugs has said they are lucky to be alive after the ordeal.

Haxby resident Theresa Roberts-Hardy suffered a broken coccyx and bruising after being knocked from her cycle in April last year by John David Murphy, 24, who last month began a three-year jail term for drugs and driving offences.

The couple were cycling along York Road, in Haxby, when they were struck by Murphy, who was at the wheel of his employer’s van while being under the influence of the veterinary tranquiliser ketamine.

His victim said: “He drifted into the near-side kerb clipping my rear wheel and sending me hurtling over the handle bars and over the collapsed figure of my neighbour.

“His wing mirror had forcefully struck my neighbour’s head, sending her crashing down. She suffered open wounds to the head, neck, shoulder, and lower body and is still suffering.

“I have made a complete recovery and I’m back into sports, but it took away my privileges for six or seven months.

“I lived to tell the tale, not everyone is as lucky. Had it been much worse, Murphy could be down for manslaughter and four children could have lost their mums.”

While speaking to The Press, Mrs Roberts-Hardy, 45, also thanked the emergency services and others who had helped on the evening of the incident.

She said: “I’d like to publicly thank those who helped us on that evening. The car which gave chase and pulled out Murphy after he’d crashed head on and injured yet another innocent female victim. The lady named Julie who stopped and called the ambulance, and our husbands for their support.

“The ambulance team who raced us to hospital and for the care we had there. The people on York Road who all assisted the police. Jan Rigby and her family who supported the injured lady in their home.

“This chain of events and the people who all become involved must be congratulated for their help.”

At his sentencing in February, Murphy, said he wanted to use his time behind bars to consider how best to turn his life round – a sentiment welcomed by Mrs Roberts-Hardy.

“Those who think they can do whatever they like and take little or no responsibility for the consequences of their actions should have their freedom removed,” she said. “Justice has been served on this occasion.

“Maybe while he’s inside, he may like to reflect and hopefully reform and get a better life.”