WAKE FOREST, NC — A Wake County man is facing multiple felony charges after state authorities say he struck a large group of cyclists Saturday morning, killing one rider and injuring several others.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the crash happened just after 9:30 a.m. on Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail. Troopers said the vehicle hit a group of about 30 bicyclists riding with the Capital Cycling Club before the driver left the scene and later crashed into a ditch about half a mile away.
Investigators say impairment is suspected in the crash. The driver, identified as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, is being held on a $1 million bond.
Troopers say the vehicle struck a large cycling group on Optimist Farm Road
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the cyclists were riding in a formation when the crash happened on a road in southern Wake County. The group was traveling together as part of the Capital Cycling Club, also referred to in coverage as the Capital Cycling Club.
Authorities said the vehicle hit riders on Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail. After the impact, troopers said Morris-Jones drove away, then ran off the left side of the road and crashed into a ditch roughly a half-mile from the scene.
The crash involved many riders, and emergency crews were quickly called to the area. Officials have not said what led the driver to strike the cyclists, but investigators believe impairment may have played a role.
Patrick Turner was killed and about a dozen more cyclists were hurt
Authorities identified the cyclist who died as Patrick Turner. In addition to the fatality, nearly a dozen other cyclists were injured, with wounds ranging from minor to serious.
Holly Springs Fire Department Chief LeRoy Smith said crews were dealing with a large number of patients at the scene. He described seven trauma cases, one fatality and about 13 minor injuries that were being treated and transported.
The injured riders were taken to several hospitals in the region, including WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary and UNC Health Holly Springs. Officials have not released a full update on each patient’s condition.
Fire officials and cyclists described a chaotic morning response
Smith said the scale of the crash required multiple responders and several hospitals to absorb patients at once. He also used the moment to remind drivers that cyclists have the right to be on the road and should be treated with caution.
“Be aware of, you know, people that are out riding bikes, they have rights to be on the road too,” Smith said, adding that motorists should yield and stay alert around bicyclists.
Shaun King, board chair of Bike Durham, said he first learned about the crash through messages from worried friends and family. He said the news quickly spread through the cycling community and left riders feeling vulnerable.
Cycling advocates say group riding can improve safety but still leaves riders exposed
King said cyclists often ride in tight formations to reduce risk and make themselves more visible and predictable to drivers. He explained that riders commonly travel two abreast so a car can pass them more quickly while remaining in another lane.
Even with that approach, King said the crash highlighted how exposed cyclists remain on public roads. He said the harm suffered by members of the Capital Cycling Club could have happened to riders anywhere in the region.
His comments reflected a broader concern among cyclists that organized riding alone cannot prevent every dangerous encounter with vehicles. For many riders, the crash reinforced fears about how quickly a routine morning ride can turn into a mass-casualty scene.
Morris-Jones faces multiple charges including felony hit-and-run and death by vehicle
NCSHP said Morris-Jones faces one count of driving while impaired, one count of driving left of center, 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 remains in custody on a $1 million bond as the investigation continues. Authorities have not said whether additional charges are possible.
The case has drawn attention because of the number of cyclists involved and the severity of the injuries. Officials continue to examine the crash as riders, emergency crews and local cycling advocates process the aftermath.
