Cyclist Killed, 22 Injured in North Carolina Crash

The crash happened at about 9:35 a.m. in Wake County, where a car crossed the center line and hit a group of cyclists. The Holly Springs Fire Department said 22 people were injured. Seven were taken to trauma centers and 15 to local hospitals, according to Fire Chief LeRoy Smith.

The victim was identified as Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The cyclists were members of the Capital Cyclist Club, whose members regularly ride the route, near Optimist Farm Road and Talicud Trail.

Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, from Apex, was behind the wheel of the black Infiniti. He was allegedly impaired, and faced charges alleging impaired operation, unsafe driving, causing a fatality involving a motor vehicle, and causing serious injury in a motor vehicle.

After striking the cyclists, the car returned to its lane and later came to rest in a ditch about half a mile away, the fire department said. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is leading the crash response.