TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
One cyclist was killed and 22 others were injured after a car crossed the center line and struck a group riding in Wake County, North Carolina, on Saturday, the State Highway Patrol said. The driver, 76-year-old Donald Robert Morris-Jones, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including driving while impaired and hit-and-run; the allegations have not been resolved in court.
One cyclist was killed and 22 others were injured when a car crossed the center line and struck a group riding on Optimist Farm Road in Wake County, North Carolina, Saturday morning, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. Authorities arrested the driver, 76-year-old Donald Robert Morris-Jones, who faces charges including driving while impaired and hit-and-run.
The cyclists were traveling together on the wooded, two-lane road about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh when an oncoming black passenger car crossed the center line and hit them, the highway patrol said. The driver continued down the road and later left it, ending up in a ditch about half a mile from the collision site, according to authorities.
The cyclist who died was identified by the highway patrol as Patrick Allen Turner, 63, of Cary. First responders found 22 other people injured. Holly Springs Fire Department Chief LeRoy Smith told CNN that seven people with more serious injuries were taken to regional trauma centers, while 15 others were hospitalized.
Morris-Jones, who authorities said is from Apex, was taken into custody. The charges include hit-and-run causing serious injury or death, serious injury by a vehicle and driving while impaired. Court records indicate he is due in court Monday afternoon. The charges are allegations, and the case has not been decided in court.
A Group Ride Ends in Fatal Collision
The crash left one person dead and 22 injured in a single incident involving a group ride, with seven of the injured taken to regional trauma centers, according to the fire department chief. The number and severity of injuries show the immediate toll on cyclists and their community, while the investigation and criminal case will determine what happened and whether the driver is held responsible.
The alleged decision to continue driving after the collision is also central to the charges, which include a felony hit-and-run offense. At this stage, authorities have announced charges, not a court finding of guilt. The outcome of the case may clarify the evidence behind the allegations and the sequence of events after the car struck the group.
Products Worth Considering
Nextbase 222X Front and Rear Dash Cam
VIOFO A229 Plus 2K Front and Rear Dash Cam
Chemical Guys 14-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Blaster
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Collision on Optimist Farm Road
The group was riding together along Optimist Farm Road amid fall colors, the highway patrol said. A cyclist told CNN affiliate WRAL that members of the group frequently ride the route together as part of the Capital Cycling Club. The crash occurred on a two-lane road outside Raleigh.
Authorities said the car crossed the center line before striking the cyclists, then continued until it ran off the left side of the roadway into a ditch. Video from the aftermath showed officers examining a stack of bicycles beside a guardrail, according to CNN’s report. The source report did not provide additional details about the driver’s condition or the circumstances that led to the car crossing the line.
“They frequently ride along the route together as part of the Capital Cycling Club.”
— A cyclist speaking to CNN affiliate WRAL
Investigation and Charges Still Pending
The source report does not say what caused the car to cross the center line, what evidence supports the impaired-driving allegation, or whether Morris-Jones has a lawyer. CNN said it was trying to determine whether he had legal representation. The charges remain allegations, and the report gives no account of a plea or court ruling.
Authorities have not provided further details about the injured cyclists’ identities or their conditions beyond the transport information given by the fire department chief. The source material also does not describe whether investigators have released a fuller reconstruction of the crash.
Monday Court Appearance Expected
Morris-Jones is scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon, according to court records. The appearance is the next reported step in the criminal case; the source material does not state what arguments or decisions are expected at that hearing.
Further information may emerge as investigators examine the collision and court proceedings begin. Until then, the confirmed account is that one cyclist died, 22 were injured, and a driver was arrested and charged. The cause of the car’s movement across the center line and the final outcome of the case remain unresolved.
Key Questions
Where did the crash happen?
The collision happened on Optimist Farm Road in Wake County, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh, North Carolina.
How many people were killed or injured?
Cyclist Patrick Allen Turner, 63, died. First responders found 22 other people injured; seven were taken to regional trauma centers and 15 others were hospitalized, according to Holly Springs Fire Department Chief LeRoy Smith.
Who was arrested, and what charges does he face?
Authorities identified the driver as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex. He faces charges including hit-and-run causing serious injury or death, serious injury by a vehicle and driving while impaired. These are allegations, not a court finding of guilt.
What is known about what happened?
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said an oncoming car crossed the center line and struck the group. Authorities said the driver continued before the car left the road and entered a ditch about half a mile from the crash site. The report does not say why the car crossed the line.
What happens next in the case?
Court records show Morris-Jones is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon. The source report does not provide details about the expected court proceedings or a later trial date.
Source: cnn.com
