Elderly Driver Charged After Hitting Cyclist in Georgia

A 72-year-old driver in Georgia is under investigation following an incident where he allegedly struck a cyclist, leading to severe injuries, and then fled the scene. The event unfolded on April 23 in Cherokee County and was caught on camera.

Jerry Wayne Ross faces charges of hit-and-run after he reportedly collided with a rider during a group cycling event organized by the North Georgia Bicycle Association, which was taking place on its usual Thursday night. Eyewitnesses described the situation as a possible road rage incident.

The cyclists were roughly halfway through a 52-mile ride when Ross approached them, honking loudly for almost two miles on Sugar Pike Road in Canton. “It was just excessive,” group leader Richard Collins remarked. “We didn’t honk at all.”

Footage from one of the cyclists shows the group riding side by side, unaware of Ross’s actions until he came alongside and struck one of the cyclists with his passenger-side mirror.

“I turned to my left to see it, and at that moment the car was over my left leg,” Collins said. As a result of the impact, he fell onto the sidewalk, while the car sped away.

Collins sustained abrasions to his shoulders, elbows, and knees and required medical attention on-site. After the accident, an orthopedic surgeon identified that he had a fracture in his lower vertebrae.

While Collins and another cyclist sustained minor injuries, Ross was located at a neighbor’s house nearby after authorities identified damage on his SUV consistent with a bicycle collision.

When questioned, Ross acknowledged seeing the cyclists but shifted the blame, claiming they were obstructing the road. He asserted the cyclists were responsible for the crash.

He now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and aggressive driving, with a total bond set at $24,540, as per jail records.