A Georgia man has been charged with assault after he allegedly struck two cyclists while trying to pass them.
Footage captured by a member of the North Georgia Cycling Association (NGCA) showed a black Honda pilot hit two people as they all rode down the street about an hour outside of Atlanta on Thursday.
Driver Jerry Ross, 72, allegedly approached the group riding together on Sugar Pike Road and ‘began sounding his horn,’ the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office told 11 Alive.
Then police say Ross ‘accelerated around the group and, despite no oncoming traffic, struck two of the riders before leaving the scene.’
The two injured cyclists were treated on the scene for their injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
Injured cyclist Richard Collins told Atlanta News First he was thrown from his bike and suffered soft tissue damage and road rash.
‘Once I turned around, the vehicle was right on my left leg. Very easily, things could have gone worse,’ Collins said.
‘It’s a lot of mass to take on asphalt. It never feels good to hit the deck on concrete. I’m very hopeful that within the next week, I’ll be back on my bike.’
Terrifying footage captured by a member of the 10-person cyclist group showed the black Honda pilot hit two people as they all rode down the street
Police say Ross ‘accelerated around the group and, despite no oncoming traffic, struck two of the riders before leaving the scene’
Officials were able to track down the vehicle thanks to the footage captured by one of the cyclists and identified the driver as Ross.
‘One cyclist riding behind the group captured the incident on video. The cyclists were also able to provide a tag number, which deputies used to quickly identify and locate the suspect,’ the sheriff’s office said.
Police identified the driver as Jerry Ross, 72
The cyclist who recorded the video, Joel Eaby, told the local news station he felt Ross was becoming aggressive and decided to film.
‘I happened to be the last person in our cycling group, and this guy was just laying on the horn,’ he said.
‘We know that sometimes getting stuck behind a group of cyclists can be an inconvenience, but that inconvenience usually only lasts a few minutes.’
Ross was located ‘not far from the incident location’ and police ‘observed damage to the passenger side of the vehicle consistent with the incident.’
‘When questioned, Ross acknowledged the encounter and claimed the cyclists were in the roadway, blaming them for the collision,’ the sheriff’s office said.
Ross was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, hit and run, reckless driving, aggressive driving and failure to maintain a safe distance from a bicycle.
The two injured cyclists were treated on the scene for their injuries
Records indicate he is being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center on $24,540 bond. It is unclear when his next court appearance will be.
The NGCA confirmed on Facebook that the incident involved its members and call on drivers to share the road.
‘We are grateful to law enforcement and emergency services for their swift response and professionalism,’ the group wrote.
‘We encourage all road users to follow the rules of the road, stay alert, and respect one another. Sharing the road responsibly helps keep everyone safe.’
The group added, ‘We also encourage everyone to treat one another with care, patience and kindness – on and off the road.
‘Most importantly, we are thankful that those involved made it home safely to their loved ones.’
