Cyclist Stan Coates hit by car after earlier Sunderland crash Published duration 28 October 2012

A cyclist in Sunderland who had stopped to exchange details with a driver after a collision was fatally struck by a second car, police have revealed.

Stan Coates, 55, of Sunderland, died in hospital after being hit in Burdon Lane at 16:45 BST on Friday.

Two men in a Transit van claiming to know and live near Mr Coates pulled up and took the bicycle after the first collision, Northumbria Police said.

But the bike is now missing and police are appealing for witnesses.

The police force said the men, in a grey van, "looked as if they had just finished work".

Unable to land

Mr Coates was flown in nine minutes to James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by the Great North Air Ambulance.

The service said it had been unable to land at a hospital in Newcastle because of snow.

Officers questioned the driver of the second car which struck Mr Coates, of West Herrington, but no arrests were made.

The 24-year-old driver of the car involved in the first incident suffered minor injuries, the force said.

Both cars involved were Vauxhall Corsas.