RALEIGH, NC — A weekend ride turned deadly when a car crossed the center line on a wooded Wake County road and slammed into a group of cyclists, killing one rider and injuring 22 others, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Investigators said the crash happened Saturday morning on Optimist Farm Road, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh, as the cyclists traveled together through the fall colors. Officials say the driver kept going after the impact, then ran off the road into a ditch about a half-mile away.
The driver, identified by authorities as 76-year-old Donald Robert Morris-Jones of Apex, is now facing several felony charges. Court records show he is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon.
Authorities say the car crossed into the cycling group on Optimist Farm Road
The highway patrol said the cyclists were riding on a two-lane road when the oncoming black passenger car moved across the center line and into the group. The road scene was described as wooded, with the riders traveling in a pack as they moved through the area.
After the collision, investigators said the car continued down the roadway before leaving the left side of the pavement and ending up in a ditch. That final stop was roughly a half-mile from where the cyclists were struck.
Video from the aftermath showed law enforcement examining a stack of bicycles leaning against a guardrail. Some cyclists were still at the scene, including one man walking around while holding a phone and still wearing his helmet.
One cyclist died, and 22 others were hurt in the crash
Patrick Allen Turner, 63, of Cary, died in the wreck, the highway patrol announced. Officials said he was among the group riding on the road when the car entered their lane.
First responders found 22 additional injured cyclists. Chief LeRoy Smith of the Holly Springs Fire Department told CNN that seven people with more serious injuries were taken to regional trauma centers.
Another 15 injured cyclists were hospitalized. Authorities did not immediately release more details about the condition of those who were transferred or treated at hospitals after the crash.
Driver faces multiple felony counts after leaving the crash scene
Morris-Jones was taken into custody after the crash and faces charges that include hit-and-run causing serious injury or death, serious injury by a vehicle, and driving while impaired. Officials have not said what evidence led them to suspect impairment, but the charge reflects that allegation.
He is from Apex, North Carolina, and authorities said he was 76 years old. Court records show he is expected in court Monday afternoon.
Law enforcement has not said whether Morris-Jones has retained an attorney. That question remains unresolved as the case moves toward his first court appearance.
Cyclists said the road was a regular ride for the Capital Cycling Club
One cyclist told WRAL that the group frequently rides the route together as part of the Capital Cycling Club. That detail suggests the road was a familiar training or recreational path for riders in the area, not a one-time gathering.
The crash has drawn attention because it happened on a relatively narrow road used by cyclists outside Raleigh. The combination of a two-lane roadway, a group ride and a vehicle crossing into the lane created the conditions for a mass-casualty collision.
Officials have not said how fast the car was traveling or why it drifted over the center line. Those questions are likely to be central as investigators continue their work.
What the scene and charges suggest about the investigation
The roadside images and the patrol’s account point to a violent impact with a large group of riders. The fact that the vehicle traveled on after the hit and ended in a ditch a half-mile later is also likely to be important for investigators.
For now, the case centers on the allegations in the charging documents and the injuries left behind. The crash left one rider dead, dozens more affected, and a local cycling community confronting the loss.
With a Monday court appearance set, the next public developments are likely to come through the criminal case and any further statements from authorities. The highway patrol has not announced any additional suspects or vehicles involved.