Cyclists mourn dead rider and injured peers after crash near Holly Springs
A 76-year-old driver faces multiple felony charges after a collision that killed one cyclist and injured 20 others, prompting local cycling clubs to cancel rides and call for safer road sharing.
A crash on Saturday near Holly Springs involving a 76-year-old driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones of Apex, resulted in the death of 63-year-old Patrick Turner of Cary and injuries to 20 other cyclists. Morris-Jones is charged with more than a dozen felonies, including hit-and-run and driving while intoxicated.
Lin Osbourne, a member of the Capital Cycling Club, said the incident underscores risks that are "beyond our control" and emphasized the need for motorists to treat cyclists as road users, not obstacles. He added that he will continue cycling, adjusting his schedule to avoid heavy traffic.
TeamCBC, another local cycling organization, cancelled its scheduled Sunday ride out of respect for those affected. Shaun King of Bike Durham described the event as a "harrowing day for everyone in the cycling community" and called for drivers to exercise patience, likening it to waiting calmly for a grandmother at a checkout line.
King noted that the community will hold a candlelight vigil on November 15 during Bike Durham's World Day of Remembrance to honor the victims. He also highlighted the long-standing safety efforts of the Capital Cycling Club, which has raised funds for multiple sclerosis through its annual Firecracker Ride.
The crash has prompted calls for greater driver awareness and respect for cyclists sharing the road.