The scene of the accident.

The scene of the accident. Contributed

DOCTORS were battling yesterday to save the badly smashed leg of a cyclist hit by a car at East Deep Creek Rd on Tuesday night.

Gympie police said the rider was one of three Nolan Meats workers riding home at the end of their shift.

He was so badly injured that a portion of his thigh bone was found at the crash scene yesterday morning, Senior Constable Jon Roche said.

The riders were in single file when an unidentified white car overtook them near a crest about 8.30pm, he said.

An oncoming black Hyundai Tiburon coupe came over the crest and swerved to avoid the white vehicle.

"He tried to take evasive action and clipped the second of the three bicycles, before smashing directly into the third one," Snr Const Roche said.

The car then rolled and came to rest on its roof.

The rear bicycle's rider suffered a severe compound fracture of the femur and was rushed to Gympie Hospital from the crash scene, just near the Randwick Rd intersection.

Snr Cnst Roche said police were keen for any witnesses to come forward to help them identify the white vehicle.

The occupants of the overturned car were able to extricate themselves from the vehicle but were taken to Gympie Hospital for a check-up, along with the rider of the second bicycle.

The first bicycle's rider was unhurt and returned to the crash scene to help.

It is understood the car occupants and second cyclist were not admitted to hospital.

But the third rider, a 31-year-old man, was airlifted for emergency treatment.

He was still undergoing surgery in Brisbane at last report about 2pm yesterday, police said.