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Police investigating driver’s ‘hit and run’ tweet Stockbroker sacked after tweeting 'joke' that he ran over cyclist then drove off
(about 1 hour later)
Police are investigating after a man apparently tweeted that he failed to stop after knocking down a cyclist while driving – as he was late for work. A stockbroker has been sacked after tweeting that he hit a cyclist but drove off because he was late for work in Bristol.
The man, named as Rayhan Qadar, reportedly posted the tweet on Monday morning. Rayhan Qadar claimed the tweet had been a “bad taste joke” as it drew a hail of criticism but that explanation was not enough for his employers or the police, who are now investigating.
Under the Twitter name Ray Pew, he wrote: “Think I just hit a cyclist. But I’m late for work so had to drive off lol.” The tweet drew widespread criticism online and within hours he was sacked from his job in the stockbroking department of Bristol investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown. Under the Twitter name Ray Pew, wrote a tweet at 8.30am on Monday saying: “Think I just hit a cyclist. But I'm late for work so had to drive off lol.”
Twitter users slated his apparent boast, but only after retweeting it and sharing it hundreds of times. Within hours he had been fired from his job at Hargreaves Lansdown, an investment firm in Bristol where he had worked in the stockbroking department.
Astronomer Adam Whittaker wrote: “You know what’s dumber than leaving the scene? Tweeting it for the world to see. I’ll be following your case.” Avon and Somerset Police also said that it would be investigating the claim, adding: “We are aware of a tweet regarding a collision between a car and a bike. We are looking into this now. Any witnesses call 101.” “One of our employees has failed to conduct themselves to the standards we expect of our staff,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Mr Qadar, a former Cardiff University student, has since apologised for what he said was a “bad taste joke”. "We find these online comments totally unacceptable. Upon becoming aware of this issue we have terminated this person's employment with immediate effect."
The tweet was shared hundreds of times, with users slating the apparent boast. But since news of Mr Qadar’s sacking emerged others rose to his defence, saying the “knee-jerk reaction” was disproportionate.
Hours after the first tweet, he wrote: “My previous tweet about the cyclist was obviously not true. I did not hit cyclist. Not today. Not ever. A bad joke on my part it seems.”
Mr Qadar's Twitter account has now been made private so that only his 1,294 followers can access his tweets.
He is understood to have spoken to Avon and Somerset Poilce, who are investigating the claim.
A spokesperson for the force said: ”We are aware of a tweet regarding a collision between a car and a bike. We are looking into this now. Any witnesses call 101.
“If you've been involved in a collision please report it at your nearest police station.”
very sad that @RayQ18 was sacked for making a crap joke on twitter. no one was hurt. shame on @HLInvest for such a knee-jerk reaction.
@RayQ18 you know what's dumber than leaving the scene? Tweeting it for the world to see. I'll be following your case.
@RayQ18 If you hit a cyclist, you are obliged to stop. I suggest you call 101 as soon as possible, I will forward the details on.
BREAKING: Oldham Town have offered @RayQ18 a contract. More to follow.
Jesus, @RayQ18 actually got fired for a tweet. Man that's actually so rough. Feel sorry for him
If only @RayQ18 knew that all the cyclists in the world, will now unite & ruin his life. Poor Ray. #PrayForRay
Additional reporting by PA