An elderly man was fighting for his life today after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver as he crossed a busy main road.

Horrified eyewitnesses say the war veteran, who is 80, was thrown on to the bonnet of the car and carried more than 50 yards along the A657 Saltaire Road in Shipley.

One witness said the car then braked sharply, flinging the man off the bonnet and into the road. The man, who is believed to live close to the scene, was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where his condition was described as critical today.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the man had been knocked down close to Fanny's Ale and Cider House and the junction with Maddocks Street just before 3pm yesterday.

She said he had been knocked down by a dark blue T-registration Mazda car, which is believed to have been stolen in the Saltaire area a short time earlier.

The car was later found dumped near the Royal Hotel pub in Crag Road, Windhill.

Eyewitness Martin Allsopp, 44, of Wycliffe Gardens, said today: "It was the most horrific thing I've ever seen.

"I heard a screeching noise and looked down the road - outside Fanny's I saw a blue car which looked like it was braking and there was smoke coming from the tyres.

"The next thing I saw was a body go up in the air and somersault. It must have gone up about ten feet before it hit the roof. It was like watching one of those crash test dummies.

"The car carried on driving with the body on the car.

"He drove about another 50 yards with the body still on the car and then he braked hard and the body flew off and on to the road.

"There were people in the road trying to stop the car and shouting 'stop'.''

A second eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "He was crossing the road when the car came and knocked him down. It was going pretty fast.''

Another witness said the car had sped off towards Shipley at more than 60mph, followed by a motorbike.

Firefighters from nearby Shipley Fire Station rushed to the scene and gave the injured man first aid until paradmedics arrived.

A spokesman for the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service said an 80-year-old man had been taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

She said he had sustained multiple fractures and a head injury, adding: "It looks as if he's been very badly hurt.''

Narinder Singh, who works at the Costcutter store on Saltaire Road, said the injured man was a regular customer.

He said: "He comes in all the time to buy his paper and had been in yesterday morning.

"He's a very nice man. It's a real tragedy.

"He's very popular with everyone and is always telling us his war stories - I think he was in the Army. He told us once that he got shot during the war.''

Following the accident a 200-yard section of Saltaire Road was blocked for more than two hours while accident investigators combed the scene.

Long delays were caused with diversions set up for rush-hour traffic.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to call (01535) 617059.

* An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection with the incident.

e-mail: ian.lewis@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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