In a tragic incident in North Carolina, an elderly driver struck a group of cyclists, resulting in one fatality and injuring at least a dozen others. The accident occurred on Saturday morning as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, was driving on Optimist Farm Road, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Morris-Jones crossed the center line and collided with the cyclists. Following the crash, he fled the scene but subsequently ran off the road and crashed into a ditch approximately half a mile away. Emergency responders arrived shortly after the accident, which took place around 9:30 a.m.
Authorities reported that the injured cyclists were taken to local hospitals, with their conditions ranging from minor to serious. Morris-Jones was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, as law enforcement suspects that impairment played a significant role in the accident.
The community is grieving the loss and injuries sustained in this incident, highlighting the ongoing concerns about road safety and the responsibility of drivers toward vulnerable road users.
Photo credit: WRAL
