VILNIUS — The need for bicycle awareness on Lithuanian roads became painfully clear on Friday as a car crashed into a rally of cyclists protesting for more rights on the road.

The rally, Critical Mass, was aimed at getting thousands of cyclists onto the streets to show drivers that they too are allowed to be on the road and deserve the respect and caution afforded to other vehicles and pedestrians.

The video, shows how the procession of riders heading down Kalvariju street towards the Green Bridge when a Ford Probe lost control and skidded into the wrong lane, injuring five people, two of them seriously. The crash happened at 7.34 p.m. close to the end of the day’s ride.

Fortunately the number plate fell off the car giving the police an easy way to find the driver, who fled the scene. The driver did not even stop after the crash, instead opting to continue speeding down the street.

Judging by the length of the skid marks, police estimate that the car was traveling at around 90 km/h.

The driver has since been arrested. It is unknown whether he was drunk at the time of the crash.

A man and a girl lie in hospital in serious conditions.