A POSTAL worker suffered horrific head and leg injuries when he was hit by an unmarked police car as he rode his moped to Mount Pleasant Sorting Office in Finsbury.

Darren Doolan, 27, is lucky to be alive after he was thrown from his bike in a collision with a black Vauxhall Zafira in Caledonian Road, Islington – close to the junction with Wynford Road – at 5.35am last Wednesday.

Mr Doolan, who lives on the York Way Estate, off Market Road, Holloway, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries to his skull, while the 35-year-old police officer driving the car was treated for severe shock at the scene.

The exact circumstances of the accident are still unclear, but British Transport Police have confirmed that the officer was on a routine patrol and not answering a 999 call.

He has been suspended from driving duties pending the outcome of the investigation, and the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Darren’s brother, Lee Doolan, 29, said: “We have been told that it was an unmarked police car which was not on an emergency call, so we don’t know exactly how the crash happened.

“Darren remembers coming round the corner as usual and he says the car just hit him. He was flung from the motorbike and went about 12 or 15 feet through the air before he landed on his head. Apparently he looked down at his injuries and said to the policeman ‘save my leg’.”

Mr Doolan, who grew up on the York way Estate and is a former pupil of the nearby Brecknock Primary and Holloway schools. He bought his moped so he could do “The Knowledge” in the afternoons after finishing work as a Royal Mail delivery driver in order to become a licensed fgaxi driver.

He has undergone one operation to insert a metal rod into his thigh bone at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, and is due for another on his skull next week.

But his family say he’s up and talking, and thinking about his beloved Arsenal as usual.

“His forehead is completely smashed, talking takes it out of him and he gets sleepy a lot,” said Lee, a courier with two children who lives in the next block to his brother.

“But he was happy when he found out Arsenal had beaten Barcelona. He’s a season ticket holder at The Emirates but he was in the operation for six hours on the day of the match and, as soon as he came out, the first thing he asked was the Arsenal score.

“It’s been a very difficult time for the family but we know things could have been much worse, and we want to thank all our friends and family who have supported us.

“They’ve been giving us lifts to and from the hospital and looked after my kids while I’m up there. The whole community has really pulled together to help.”

The Metrpolirtan Police’s Traffic Serious Case Unit is examining the circumstances around the crash while the IPPC considers whether to launch a full scale investigation.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “We have received a referral from the British Transport Police regarding a serious injury road traffic incident that took place on the Caledonian Road. We will make a decision about any IPCC involvement in an investigation in due course.”