A motorist crossed the center line on Saturday, November 7, 2026, and plowed into a group of cyclists, killing one rider and injuring others during a morning bike ride on a wooded road in Wake County.
Driver Hits Cyclists on Optimist Farm Road
The collision occurred just after 9:30 a.m. along Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail, about 14 miles southwest of Raleigh. A black Infiniti passenger car traveling west crossed the center line and struck a group of bicyclists riding east, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The vehicle continued for approximately a half-mile before veering off the left side of the roadway and landing in a ditch, and the driver did not stop at the initial impact site.
Radio traffic captured by Broadcastify described the immediate aftermath, noting that A vehicle just hit 15 to 20 pedestrians. Vehicle was a small black Infiniti … the driver is currently out, stumbling around at this time. It’s gonna be an older white male with white hair, goatee wearing a blue shirt. The vehicle is currently in a ditch. There are several injuries and possibly one code 7. SHP has been notified and EMS is on the way as well.
Emergency Crews Transport Injured Riders
Patrick Allen Turner of Cary, North Carolina, died at the scene at age 63. The victims belonged to the Capital Cycling Club, a community of riders who frequently use the route for weekend outings.
Emergency crews transported the wounded to WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary, and UNC Health Holly Springs. Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith reported seven trauma cases, one fatality, and about 13 minor injuries.
Troopers Arrest Donald Robert Morris-Jones
Law enforcement arrested 76-year-old Donald Robert Morris-Jones of Apex, North Carolina, at the scene as the driver of the Infiniti. He is being held at the Wake County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.
Court documents and state highway patrol releases enumerate the charges filed by state troopers and local officials:
- One count of felony death by vehicle
- Seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle
- Eight counts of felony hit-and-run
- Driving while impaired (DWI)
- Reckless driving
- Driving left of center
Court records indicate that Morris-Jones has no prior criminal record, but court documents designate him as an overwhelming danger to society. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Monday afternoon, November 9, 2026.
Riders Confront Vulnerability on Regional Roads
Shaun King explained that riders often use structured, double-file formations specifically to minimize the window of time a passing vehicle spends alongside them.
We feel very vulnerable in this moment because this harm that our CCC community members are feeling right now could have happened to any of us.
Shaun King, board member
Bob Schroder, who lives near the crash site and formerly cycled himself, expressed sorrow over the incident. Lynn Osborne, a cyclist who regularly rides with the affected group, told reporters that such crashes happen far too often, leaving members angry and deeply shaken as investigators continue compiling the final crash report.
Earlier coverage: Car Kills Patrick Allen Turner, Injures 20 Cyclists
