Police hunt killer of young mother killed in e-bike hit and run

A young mother killed when she was rammed off an e-bike in a hit-and-run crash has been named.

Alana Armstrong was riding pillion on one of two e-bikes that were being followed by a dark-coloured 4x4 at about 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old, mother to a six-year-old boy, died when the car struck one of the bikes in Batley Lane in Pleasley, while the rider - a man in his 20s - was taken to hospital. He has since had to have one of his legs amputated below the knee.

Derbyshire Police has launched a murder inquiry and a man and woman, previously arrested in connection with the incident, have been released without charge.

The force said its thoughts were with the family of Ms Armstrong, from Tibshelf in Derbyshire.

"Alana was just 25 – and a mum to a six-year-old boy," Ch Supt Dave Kirby said.

"Her little boy, along with her wider family, will never get the chance to see her again, hug her again, spend Christmas together, or celebrate all those milestones."

Police said the car that rammed the e-bike had pursued the bikes through the village of Pleasley, with the last known sighting of it in Rowthorne Lane, where it turned right on to the A617 towards New Houghton.

A man was driving the vehicle, with a woman in the passenger seat, the force added.

Officers want to hear from people who might have seen a dark-coloured Land Rover Discovery, thought to have been manufactured between 2004 and 2009, in and around the Pleasley area before 20:00.

Ch Supt Kirby added: "Two people who were arrested in connection with the incident have now been released without charge – and have been discounted from our investigation.

"We have already received a significant amount of information from the public and I want to thank everyone who has come forward already to help our investigation.

"However, I know that there is more information out there – and there are people who know who the person responsible is.

"As an officer, as a member of the local community, and as a father, I am devastated for her little boy, her family, and her friends and we will do all we can to find those responsible."