A black Infiniti crossed the center line on Optimist Farm Road just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, crashing directly into a group of about 30 bicyclists riding together with the Capital Cycling Club in Wake County, North Carolina.
Fatal Crash on Optimist Farm Road Leaves One Cyclist Dead and Nearly Two Dozen Injured
The collision killed 63-year-old Patrick Allen Turner of Cary at the scene, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. First responders arriving in the area near Talicud Trail found 22 other cyclists injured. Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith told CNN that seven people with severe injuries were transported to regional trauma centers, while 15 others were hospitalized.
Radio traffic captured by Broadcastify described the initial arrival of emergency crews, noting that a small black Infiniti had struck 15 to 20 riders and that there were several injuries, with EMS on the way. Thirteen less seriously injured cyclists were transported from the scene by a Wake County EMS bus, according to The News & Observer.
Charges Filed Against 76-Year-Old Driver Donald Robert Morris-Jones
State troopers arrested 76-year-old Donald Robert Morris-Jones of Apex following the crash. Investigators stated that the driver continued half a mile down the road after hitting the cyclists before running off the left side of the roadway and landing in a ditch, where he was subsequently taken into custody.
The accusations against Morris-Jones include one count of driving while impaired, one count of driving left of center, one count of reckless driving, eight counts of felony hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, and one count of felony death by vehicle. He is being held at the Wake County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.
Court documents cited by WRAL indicate that Morris-Jones has no prior criminal record but is classified as an overwhelming danger to society. A State Highway Patrol spokesperson stated that the agency cannot speculate on the exact substance causing the impairment while the investigation remains underway.
Impact on the Capital Cycling Club and Local Cycling Safety
The victims were part of a regular weekend ride organized by the Capital Cycling Club, which frequently routes through Holly Springs on its standard 70-mile loop. Shaun King, board chair of Bike Durham, told ABC11 that the local cycling community feels acutely vulnerable following the tragedy.
This morning, when my wife started to receive messages saying, 'Are you okay? Are you hurt?' We scrambled to figure out what was happening,
King said, as reported by ABC11. 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.
King explained that the club’s riders typically organize themselves into a tight, two-abreast formation to ensure passing vehicles spend less time alongside them in adjacent lanes. In the wake of the collision, he urged public officials to pursue expanded educational campaigns and improved roadway signage, such as warnings for blind turns and reminders to share the road safely.
Bob Schroder, a local resident living near the crash site and a former cyclist himself, expressed sorrow over the incident to WRAL.
Chief Smith similarly called on drivers to exercise caution and grant riders the proper right-of-way on rural routes. Optimist Farm Road was temporarily closed through the early afternoon hours near the NC 540 Toll highway.
Earlier coverage: Apex Man Charged After Car Hits Cyclists, Killing One in Wake County
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