Kitesurfer hit by car after strong wind blows him onto motorway

A kitesurfer was hit by a car in California after a gust of wind blew him onto a busy motorway on Friday.

Police said the man suffered life-threatening injuries when the 4x4 hit him on the San Francisco highway.

San Francisco Police Department spokeswoman Grace Gatpandan told Reuters the man was setting up his board when he was hit by the strong wind and carried onto the southbound lanes of the Great Highway.

See also: Kite surfer critically ill after wind drags him 100ft off beach into building

Tourist Steve Sutherland, 54, told the San Francisco Chronicle: "He was down by the water getting his stuff ready with his girlfriend, but there was just too much wind. It picked him up and took him toward the road. He bounced a couple times, and then I lost sight of him. But whatever happened after that it wasn't good."

See also: Paraglider gets wires twisted mid-flight and crashes into rock face

Witness Alex Lowe of Alameda, who is also a kitesurfer, told CBS Local: "It's definitely a freak accident. This is a relatively safe sport. You definitely need to be more of an expert level when you come out in a wind like this today."

Police said the 4x4 driver stopped and did not leave the scene.

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