DWI driver kills one cyclist, injures dozens in North Carolina group ride
A 76-year-old Apex man struck about 30 cyclists in Wake County, killing one and injuring several others. Donald Robert Morris-Jones faces multiple felony charges and a $1 million bond.
One cyclist dead, multiple injured after impaired driver hits group in Wake County
A 76-year-old man from Apex, North Carolina, faces multiple felony charges after driving into a group of roughly 30 cyclists on Saturday morning, killing one rider and injuring nearly a dozen others, abc11.com reports.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) responded just after 9:30 a.m. to Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail, where the driver had ploughed into members of the Capital Cycling Club. After striking the group, the man fled the scene before running off the left side of the road and crashing into a ditch approximately half a mile from the initial impact.
The bicyclist who died was identified as Patrick Turner. Injured riders were transported to WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary and UNC Health Holly Springs, with injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Chief LeRoy Smith of the Holly Springs Fire Department described the scale of the emergency at the scene. "We had seven traumas, one fatality and about 13 minor injuries that are being treated and transported now," he said.
Authorities identified the suspect as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex. NCSHP said he is charged with one count of driving while impaired (DWI), one count of driving left of centre, one count of reckless driving, eight counts of felony hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle and one count of felony death by vehicle. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
Investigators said impairment is suspected to be a factor in the crash.
Shaun King, board chair of Bike Durham, said he learned of the incident through a flood of messages from concerned friends and family. "This morning, when my wife started to receive messages saying, 'Are you okay? Are you hurt?' We scrambled to figure out what was happening," he said.
King described the broader impact on the regional cycling community. "We feel very vulnerable in this moment because this harm that our CCC community members are feeling right now could have happened to any of us."
He also explained how organised group riding is intended to minimise risk for both cyclists and passing motorists. "By riding in the style that we do, which is two in line, it means that we are more compact, so that a vehicle passes us under a short duration when they're in the other line."
King called for policy changes in the wake of the crash, including improved road signage and public education. "We could have better signage on roads that, for example, said, 'share the road with cyclists', or 'be watchful of this blind turn'. 'Pass safely.' And there's so many educational opportunities that we could move forward together with if we had better policy."
Chief Smith echoed the call for greater driver awareness. "Be aware of people that are out riding bikes — they have rights to be on the road too, so yield to them and be cautious when you're riding around bicyclists," he said.
Source: Google News MT