Keen Goosnargh runner ‘left for dead’ in Broughton hit and run

Joshua Bello is currently in Royal Preston Hospital, pictured here with his younger brother Elijah Pic: Lisa Bello/Blog Preston

A 25-year-old man is in hospital after being hit by a van while out running.

Joshua Bello is in Royal Preston Hospital with two breaks to his neck, a broken ankle, serious damage to his right foot and shattered ligaments.

Update: Police have now made an arrest and continue to appeal for witnesses

The keen runner and male model, who was out on a training run for an upcoming marathon, was hit from behind in Langley Lane, Broughton, close to the junction with Short Lane.

Joshua, who lives in Goosnargh, was hit just after 1pm on Friday (19 January).

His mother, Lisa, has taken to social media to try and trace the driver responsible – sharing photographs of Joshua’s injuries and appealing for dashcam footage and witnesses.

Joshua, second from right, with his family and his mum Lisa Pic: Lisa Bello/Blog Preston

Lisa told Blog Preston: “The driver hit him from behind, throwing him into bushes, not stopping and just carried on driving leaving my son for dead and his Ford transit van’s wing mirror behind.

“I can’t believe he [the driver] didn’t stop but at least he left his wing mirror behind.

“He [Joshua] was found by one of the vet nurses who was witness to the accident, she tried to get him from the bushes, she shouted for a passer by another vet in the area.

“Due to wait times being high for ambulances the kind lady took him in her car to A&E. She sat with him until I could get there.”

Joshua out for a meal Pic: Lisa Bello/Blog Preston

Joshua was out training for the Paris marathon in April.

Lisa said: “I hope he will make a full recovery but this will take time before he runs another marathon but we are thankful for everyone who is helped and this includes all residents in Goosnargh.

“We are looking for any CCTV in the area from 1pm on the Friday. So I’m appealing for your help to find who did this to my boy and left him for dead.”