A cyclist in his 40s has died after he was involved in a hit and run incident in the early hours of Sunday (July 31) morning.

Emergency services were called to Hylton Road in Sunderland at around 1.20am following reports of a crash involving a car and a bicycle.  

After attending the crash site, Northumbria Police confirmed that a man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been notified and are being offered support by specialist family liaison officers.

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Officers from Northumbria Police are now appealing for information relating to the incident and are treating the collision as a hit and run.

The vehicle believed to be involved – a snapper rocks blue-coloured BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe – had already left the scene before officers attended the scene.

It is possible that there were passengers in the vehicle.

Enquiries are ongoing to identify the occupants and police are encouraging those involved, or anyone who saw the incident, to come forward and assist the investigation.

Sergeant Dave Roberts, of Northumbria Police, said: “Clearly this is a very serious and sad incident that has resulted in a man’s death. Our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time.

“They deserve to know the full circumstances surrounding this incident and we are committed to identifying and tracing the occupants of the vehicle involved, which we believe to be a blue BMW Gran Coupe.

“I would encourage the driver or any occupants to make themselves known to police and hand themselves in to their nearest police station as soon as possible.

“I am also asking any members of the public who witnessed this collision, or who was in the Hylton Road area at the time and may have dashcam footage showing a blue BMW, to get in touch.

“Your information, no matter how small or insignificant you feel it may be, could be crucial in giving the man’s family the answers they deserve.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of Northumbria Police’s website or by calling 101, quoting log NP-20220731-0108.

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