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Impaired driver plows into North Carolina cycling group, killing 1 and injuring more than 20; faces 19 charges
A 76-year-old driver allegedly impaired crossed the centre line and drove into a group of about 30 cyclists in Wake County, North Carolina, on the morning of November 7, killing one rider and injuring more than 20. He faces 19 charges, including felony death by vehicle, on a $1 million bond.
A driver allegedly impaired by alcohol drove into a group of about 30 cyclists in North Carolina, killing one rider and injuring more than 20. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the crash happened shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, on Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail, east of Holly Springs in Wake County, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh.
Black sedan crossed the centre line into the group
About 30 riders from the Capital Cycling Club were out on a Saturday morning group ride when a black Infiniti crossed the double yellow centre line and struck the group head-on. The rider killed was Patrick Allen Turner, 63, of Cary, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the Highway Patrol said.
Reports differ on the exact injury toll: WRAL, citing Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith, reported 20 injured — seven seriously and 13 with minor injuries — while CNN, citing the same fire chief, reported 22 injured, seven seriously and 15 taken to hospital. The seven seriously injured riders were taken to regional trauma centres, including WakeMed Raleigh's Level 1 Trauma Center, with other victims treated at WakeMed Cary and UNC Health Holly Springs.
Driver faces 19 charges on a $1 million bond
The driver was identified as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex. Troopers said he kept driving for about half a mile after the collision before running off the road into a ditch, where he was taken into custody. He has been charged with driving while impaired, felony death by vehicle, seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, eight counts of felony hit-and-run, reckless driving and driving left of centre — 19 charges in total — and is being held on a $1 million secured bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon, November 9. The Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
The Capital Cycling Club, based in the Apex area, is one of the oldest cycling clubs in the state. Authorities classified the crash as a mass-casualty incident.
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