Apex driver faces 19 charges after deadly cyclist crash
RALEIGH, N.C. -- There was a strong show of support from the cycling community, which filled three rows of a courtroom, as 76-year-old Donald Morris-Jones of Apex appeared in court on 19 charges, including driving while impaired and nine counts of felony hit-and-run, in connection with a crash that prosecutors say killed one cyclist and injured 20 others.
During the hearing, Judge Mark Stevens outlined the potential penalties Morris-Jones could face.
"The total maximum punishment is 1,089 months in prison plus three years plus 60 days," Stevens said.
When Morris-Jones asked how much time that amounted to, Stevens later replied, "Somewhere around 112 years in prison."
Prosecutors alleged in court that Morris-Jones was under the influence Saturday morning when he drove into a group of 30 cyclists. Authorities said one person was killed and 20 others were injured.
According to Wake County Assistant District Attorney Mary Mangum, Morris-Jones continued driving after the collision.
"Ultimately, this defendant kept driving and was located approximately one-half mile down the road. After running off the roadway down there," Mangum said.
Prosecutors said Morris-Jones' black Infiniti came to rest after striking a ditch. The cyclist who died was identified as 63-year-old Patrick Turner.
A makeshift memorial has been placed near the crash site. Turner was described as a strong cyclist who rode weekly with the Capital Cycling Club.
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Capital Cycling Club President Tim Charlino said he was riding with the group when the crash occurred and described the aftermath.
"There was blood and mangled bikes and twisted bodies. People were moaning. It was pretty bad," Charlino said.
Charlino said the defendant's mirror clipped him before the crash and recalled the sound of the impact.
"It was loud. I mean, it was, it was just shockingly loud," he said. "I was pretty lucky I escaped by inches," he said.
Charlino also said several injured cyclists continued helping others at the scene despite their own injuries.
"There were several people who were injured, who were still helping, with everything that day; helping to clean up, helping to get people situated. And they themselves were injured and worse than we thought," Charlino said.
The Capital Cycling Club president said six victims remained hospitalized with serious injuries following the crash. One injured cyclist briefly spoke by phone Monday before heading into surgery.
A memorial for Turner is planned at a later date. Morris-Jones remains jailed on a $1 million bond.
