AN 24-YEAR-OLD Bradford man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a motorcyclist died in a collision.

The dead man, named locally as John Naylor, 30, was involved in the horrifying crash on Cottingley Road, in Sandy Lane on Wednesday night between a silver Ford Focus and a grey Yamaha motorcycle.

Detectives said the Ford Focus was driving in the direction of Cottingley and turned right at the junction with Stone Street when it crashed into the motorbike coming in the opposite direction.

The Ford fled the scene and hit a VW Polo before it was ditched.

One Cottingley Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: “We were in the house with friends on Wednesday night and saw a lot of blue flashing lights.

“We were told someone hit a motorcyclist, another cars and then they abandoned their car in Meadow Court and ran off.

“Police dogs were here and they were trying to catch them.

“We saw blue lights about 8 or 8.30pm, but it was dark and you often get some police activity up and down this street, but this was more than normal.

“There was a lot of police around.

“It’s a 20mph zone around here but at least one in 100 take notice of that and the speed bumps have little effect.”

The road was cordoned off by police close to the junction with Wilsden Road at 8pm, causing traffic delays in the area the following morning as parents tried to take their children to school.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Swift, of the Major Enquiry Team, said: “I would urgently appeal for anyone who witnessed this collision or saw the driver of the Ford make off from the scene.

“This was a tragic incident in which a man lost his life and we want to establish the full circumstances around the collision.

“Anyone who witnessed the silver Ford Focus driving in the area prior to the collision or anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the vehicles driving in the area should get in contact with officers.”

Contact police on 101, quoting log number 1596 of 03/10.