Wake County Crash: Driver Faces Felony Charges After Fatal Collision
A 76-year-old driver is accused of striking a group of cyclists on Optimist Farm Road, killing one man and injuring seven others.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
A 63-year-old cyclist died Saturday morning after a vehicle struck a group of riders on Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail in Wake County. Patrick Turner was killed in the collision, which also left seven other people hospitalized. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local riders who cite driver negligence as a primary cause of the tragedy.
Investigators identified the driver as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex. Authorities say Morris-Jones left the initial crash site and continued driving before colliding with a ditch approximately half a mile away. He faces more than 12 felony charges, including driving while impaired, felony hit and run involving serious injury or death, and one count of felony death by vehicle.
The riders involved were members of the Capital Cycling Club. Dileep Dadlani, a member of the club since moving to the Triangle in 2008, described the group as highly safety-conscious. He stated that the club members look out for one another and adhere strictly to road safety protocols.
Dadlani said the crash could have been prevented had the driver not been under the influence. He noted that the vehicle struck 30 people in total, with seven sustaining injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. The loss has prompted many riders to reconsider their comfort levels sharing the road with motor vehicles.
Dadlani recalled being struck by a vehicle years ago while training for a race, an accident that broke his collarbone. He said the memory of the engine and the spinning belt of the car remains vivid. He and his wife have since stopped riding on main roads due to increasing traffic and distracted drivers.
The driver is scheduled to appear in court Monday. A memorial has been established at the crash site where Turner died. Dadlani urged drivers to pay closer attention to the road and maintain lower speeds to ensure safety for all users.
Dadlani emphasized that cyclists aim to follow traffic laws and act as responsible road users. He said the community hopes that drivers will reciprocate that effort by taking the road seriously and reducing reliance on technology while driving.
