ATLANTA (Atlanta News First/Gray News) — A cyclist is recovering after being knocked off his bike last Thursday by a car in Georgia.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Jerry Ross struck two members of a 10-person cycling group before fleeing the scene.
One of the cyclists, Richard Collins, was thrown from his bike but suffered relatively minor injuries, including soft tissue damage and road rash. He did not sustain any broken bones.
Collins and the group were about 23 miles into their ride when they began hearing a car honking behind them.
“I happened to be the last person in our cycling group, and this guy was just laying on the horn,” said Joel Eaby.
Eaby said he pulled out his phone to try to capture the car’s license plate to share with police. As the driver continued honking and moving closer, Eaby kept recording.
“Once I turned around, the vehicle was right on my left leg,” Collins said.
Collins said he was traveling at less than 15 miles per hour when the driver hit him and continued driving. He believes the driver’s intent was clear.
“Very easily, things could have gone worse,” said Collins. “It’s a lot of mass to take on asphalt. It never feels good to hit the deck on concrete.”
Cherokee County deputies said the driver later told them the crash was the cyclists’ fault.
Ross is now facing six charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and failure to maintain a safe distance from a bicycle.
“We know that sometimes getting stuck behind a group of cyclists can be an inconvenience, but that inconvenience usually only lasts a few minutes,” Eaby said.
Georgia law requires drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing.
Both Collins and Eaby said this was the first time they had experienced a cyclist getting hit. Still, Eaby said it highlights why many cyclists use front- and rear-facing cameras on their bikes.
Collins isn’t back on his bike just yet, but he says that should change soon.
“I’m very hopeful that within the next week, I’ll be back on my bike,” he said.
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