A father-of-two has described his shock at being “left for dead” by a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene of a crash.

Paul Smith, 43, was riding his motorbike in School Lane, Herne, when he was hit by a car.

Graphic pictures of foot injury below

The silversmith broke multiple bones in his foot and now requires surgery.

He will be off work for at least eight weeks and is concerned about how he will pay the bills.

Police are investigating the incident which happened shortly before 7pm on Friday.

Mr Smith had been commuting home from Ashford to Herne Bay when the crash happened.

“I was doing about 20mph and it was dark,” he said.

“There were cars on the right-hand side and a car came up, which I expected to give way as it was my right of way.

“But it carried on going and went into the side of the bike.

“The bike fell onto the pavement, narrowly missing some pedestrians and they just drove off and left me for dead.”

Nearby residents and passers-by came to his aid, who he said “could not have been more helpful”.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene and Mr Smith was taken to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

An X-ray revealed a number of bones were broken in his foot and he now is waiting to have surgery.

The crash also caused extensive damage to his motorbike.

Now, Mr Smith will be off work for at least eight weeks, which he says is a worry for him financially.

“I have two kids and we have just bought a house in Herne Bay so the worry is if I can pay the mortgage and keep feeding the kids,” he added.

He told how he was “scared but more in shock” in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

“As far as they’re concerned, they have left me for dead,” he said.

“It makes you sad and angry that as far as they know, they could have killed someone.

“I don’t know if they panicked but they could have come back and ‘fessed up to it which is quite spineless.”

Police did not issue details of the car involved, but Mr Smith believes it was a black or silver Skoda or Volkswagen.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Kent Police was called to School Lane, Herne Bay at 6.45pm on January 7, 2022 following a report of a collision between a car and a motorbike.

“Officers attended the scene along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and the motorcyclist was treated for a foot injury.

“The driver of the car was not at the scene when officers arrived and enquiries are ongoing to locate them.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is urged to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 07-1040.