A man is recovering in hospital after being struck by an SUV while riding his bike in the Beverly Heights neighbourhood early Monday morning, and Edmonton police believe it was intentional.

Police shared a short video Friday that they believe shows the incident in question. The video was taken from inside a vehicle, and police say it was posted to social media.

The video shows an “incredibly disturbing” disregard for life, and its purpose was “simply for online entertainment,” said acting Staff Sgt. Richard Windover, of the Edmonton Police Service’s traffic services branch, in a news release issued Friday afternoon.

The footage shows the vehicle is trailing a cyclist, who is riding on the opposite side of the road at nighttime. Police say the incident happened near 42nd Street and 113th Avenue, shortly after 3:15 a.m. MT Monday.

In the video, the engine revs up as the SUV accelerates toward the cyclist. He’s hit with the front end of the vehicle, on the driver’s side.

Someone riding their bike on a suburban street at nighttime is seen through a vehicle windshield. The bike's rear reflector shines bright from the vehicle's headlights.A video, part of which is depicted here, taped a cyclist getting hit by an SUV. Edmonton police believe it shows an incident that happened in Beverly Heights earlier this week. (Edmonton Police Service)

Two people chuckle as the vehicle keeps driving.

Paramedics treated the man on scene and were bringing him to hospital as a precaution — but his condition worsened en route, police say.

He was in stable condition as of Friday afternoon.

Police also released security camera footage that is believed to show the SUV involved, but investigators have yet to confirm its make and model.

Some Beverly Heights residents told CBC News they were disturbed by the incident, especially if it was intentional.

Jason Lizot, who lives near the scene, woke up Monday morning to the intersection being blocked off with police tape, and cruisers and larger investigation vehicle parked nearby. Police were there for several hours, he said.

A bicycle lies on the curb of a suburban street. Just north of it, yellow police tape blocks off the street at a nearby intersection, and a black SUV is parked in front of the tape.Edmonton police blocked off an intersection in the Beverly Heights neighbourhood to investigate a vehicle-cyclist collision that happened in the early hours of Aug. 4. (Submitted by James Lizot)

“I, honestly, assumed there was a death or something, because of the investigation,” Lizot said.

He noticed a bicycle lying beside the curb with its wheel wrecked, he said, but didn’t see an ambulance on scene at the time.