31st G8 Summit - Bicycle Accident

Bicycle Accident

While attending the summit, on July 6, 2005, George W. Bush collided with a British police officer, suffering minor lacerations on his hands and arms; the officer was taken to a local hospital.

It was initially reported that the officer suffered only minor injuries and was taken to the hospital only as a precaution. However, the officer ended up needing crutches and missing three months of duty. On February 26, 2006, The Scotsman published a previously unreleased policy report which contradicted the administration's story:

As the President passed the junction at speed he raised his left arm from the handlebars to wave to the police officers present while shouting 'thanks, you guys, for coming'. As he did this he lost control of the cycle, falling to the ground, causing both himself and his bicycle to strike on the lower legs.

John Scott, a human rights lawyer, said:"There's certainly enough in this account for a charge of careless driving. Anyone else would have been warned for dangerous driving. I have had clients who have been charged with assaulting a police officer for less than this."

Bush, who has experienced other bicycle- and Segway-related accidents, commented, "When you ride hard on a mountain bike, sometimes you fall, otherwise you're not riding hard."