A Brighton dad who was flung several feet in the air by a hit and run driver who left him for dead cannot remember a thing about the incident, his wife says.
Andy Payne, 53, is now back at his home in Hove, but his wife Lisa told the Daily Mail he is doing his best not to bring back any hidden memories of the crash.
Mr Payne was hit by a stolen Fiat 500 in Montague Place, Kemp Town, on 14 January. The shocking events were captured on CCTV, and footage released yesterday in a bid to trace witnesses was watched 3 million times. It has now been removed from YouTube.
Information received as a result directly led to the arrest of a 31-year-old Brighton man for dangerous driving causing serious injury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and aggravated vehicle taking, after hiding on a roof in Donald Hall Road yesterday afternoon.
He is still in custoday while a 56-year-old woman, also from Brighton, arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice, has been released on police bail.
Mrs Payne told the Daily Mail: “We let the video out because we thought it might help. I haven’t watched it. I don’t want to watch it.
“And I think that’s why he doesn’t want to talk to anyone because he doesn’t really want to remember anything. He’s okay. He’s doing alright.”
She also said Mr Payne had spent just five nights in hospital being treated for head injuries, returning home last Tuesday.
The couple have three children, Sam, 26, Luke, 23, and Millie, 22, who all attended Blatchington Mill School in Hove.
This afternoon, Sussex Police thanked all those who had shared the video and said they had now traced the four drivers they wanted to talk to.
A statement released on Facebook said: “Thank you to everyone for supporting our investigation into the hit and run in Brighton by watching and sharing the video.
“Hundreds of people got in touch after watching it and as a direct result we arrested two people last night. We are still appealing for witnesses however we believe we have now traced the drivers of the four vehicles we were appealing directly to.
“We know the CCTV was very shocking but almost 3 million people watched it, we had 16,000 comments and more than 6,000 liked it on Facebook alone.
“We have passed on all your well wishes onto the victim who thanks you for your support. He is continuing to recover well at home.”
Not a Brighton man. A HOVE man.
And the difference is what? Is that really what is important considering what you’re commenting on? #sad