Police report details how F1 driver Alonso’s cycling crash happened

Alpine Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso was hit by a car as it was turning into a supermarket car park, police in Switzerland have said.

The two-time world champion was out riding his bicycle near Lugano on Thursday lunchtime when he was involved in the accident, which left him hospitalised.

A report from the Ticino division of the Swiss police has provided detail on how the accident occurred.

“Just before 2pm in Viganello, a 42-year-old Swiss motorist domiciled in the Lugano area was driving in via La Santa in the direction of Pregassona,” said the report.

“According to an initial reconstruction and for reasons that the police investigation will have to establish, while making a left turn manoeuvre to enter a supermarket parking lot, there was a collision with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle. He was passing the column of stationary vehicles in the opposite direction on the right.

“The collision occurred against the right side of the car.

“On the spot intervened agents of the cantonal police and, in support, of the police of the city of Lugano as well as the rescuers of the Green Cross of Lugano who after having given the first attention to the cyclist transported him by ambulance to the Hospital. The 39-year-old suffered a fractured jaw.”

Alonso has since undergone successful corrective surgery for a fracture on his upper jaw and will remain in hospital for observation for a further 48 hours.

His Alpine team say they expect Alonso to progressively resume training in the next few days and that the Spaniard will be “fully operational” to prepare for the upcoming 2021 F1 season, with pre-season testing in Bahrain just four weeks away on 12-14 March.

The opening race of the season will also be held in Bahrain, two weeks later on 28 March.

Thanks for all your wishes, I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway.
Let’s gooooooooooooooo

— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) February 12, 2021