Boy, 12, critical after being hit by bike in Tai Po

A 12-year-old male student was in critical condition after being hit by a bicycle darting down a steep hill in Tai Po on Monday, Apple Daily reports.

The victim, surnamed Ho, was among a group of students at Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School who went on a field trip to Bride's Pool, part of the Plover Cove Country Park in the northeastern New Territories.

His mother said the boy had undergone two major surgeries, including a brain procedure, as a result of the accident. She said she would hold the biker liable for the incident.

Witnesses said Ho and three classmates were returning from the toilet near the barbecue area to join the rest of the group when the accident happened at around 11 a.m.

Ho rushed ahead to cross the street despite seeing a bike coming down the hill at full speed, apparently thinking that he could avoid it and reach the opposite side, the witnesses said.

The biker tried to steer to the left but still collided with Ho, who was thrown two meters away and hit the ground with his head. The rider was also thrown off his bike and injured his shoulders.

An ambulance arrived and rushed the boy to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin, while the biker, who was still conscious, was sent to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po, Headline Daily reported. 

Police confiscated the bike for investigation. The bike is a Cannondale SuperSix, a lightweight bicycle that could cost up to HK$100,000, Apple Daily said. Its front tire was broken.

A speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour is set for vehicles using the road where the accident happened.

A witness said a biker could easily reach the speed limit when negotiating the slope, which is very steep. He reminded fellow bikers to be very alert and to warn pedestrians to stay clear of the road when pedaling down the slope.

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