A 76-year-old driver whom troopers suspect was impaired crossed the center line on a country road outside Raleigh and plowed into a group of cyclists, killing at least one rider and injuring 22.
Story Highlights
- The crash happened shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, on Optimist Farm Road east of Holly Springs, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh.
- Patrick Allen Turner, 63, of Cary was killed; 22 others were hurt, seven of them badly enough to go to trauma centers.
- Troopers say the driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones of Apex, kept going after the impact and ended up in a ditch about a half mile away.
- He faces 19 charges, including driving while impaired and felony death by vehicle, and is held on a $1 million bond.
Troopers Describe A Deadly Collision On A Country Road
About 30 riders from the Capital Cycling Club, a local riding club, were heading downhill on a curving, tree-lined stretch of the two-lane road when an oncoming black passenger car crossed the center line and drove into the group, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Troopers said impairment is suspected as a factor. They have not said whether alcohol, drugs or something else was involved.
Troopers said the car did not stop. It continued down the road, ran off the left side of the pavement and crashed into a ditch about a half mile from where the riders were hit. Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith said seven of the injured were taken to trauma centers and 15 to local hospitals. The injured were taken to WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary and UNC Health Holly Springs.
Driver Identified, Arrested, And Charged With Multiple Felonies
Troopers identified the driver as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, a town in Wake County. He was taken into custody and is accused of 19 counts, according to reports: one count each of driving while impaired, driving left of center, reckless driving and felony death by vehicle, eight counts of felony hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, and seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle. “Hit-and-run” here means leaving the scene of a crash in which someone was hurt or killed.
He is being held on a $1 million bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon, November 9, according to Wake County records. He has not been convicted of any crime, and the charges will be tested in court. Police have not released the results of any blood or breath tests.
Road Safety Context: Cyclists And Impaired Driving
Federal traffic safety data show 1,103 bicycle riders died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024, about 2.8 percent of all traffic deaths. In an estimated 14 percent of those fatal crashes, a driver had a blood alcohol level of at least .08, the legal limit for drivers in most states.
Group riders know the danger well. Riding two abreast keeps a group compact so cars can pass more quickly, said Shaun King, board chair of the bike advocacy group Bike Durham. “We feel very vulnerable in this moment,” he said. Chief Smith asked drivers to watch for riders: “Be aware of, you know, people that are out riding bikes, they have rights to be on the road too.”
What Comes Next In Wake County: Evidence, Courts, And Community Care
The criminal case will move through the Wake County courts. For the injured riders and their families, recovery may take months. For Patrick Turner’s family, the loss is permanent.
The lesson for every driver is plain. Stay in your lane, slow down on blind curves, and never get behind the wheel impaired. When a driver crosses that line, troopers and prosecutors are expected to hold that person to account, and courts decide the outcome on the evidence.
Sources:
krdo.com, edition.cnn.com, abc11.com, people.com, wesh.com, spectrumlocalnews.com, crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov