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How Did 1 Cyclist Die and 20 Get Injured When a Car Hit a Group of Cyclists in Wake County?

Published Updated 3 min read By Live Accident Tracker Editorial

Quick answer: A 76-year-old driver crossed the centre line and hit a group of cyclists on Optimist Farm Road in Wake County, North Carolina, on Saturday 7 November 2026. Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died at the scene, and 20 other cyclists were injured. The driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and more than a dozen other felony offences, including hit-and-run. He is being held on a $1 million secured bond.

Key facts

  • What: A car hit a group of cyclists on a group ride
  • Where: Optimist Farm Road, near Apex and Holly Springs, Wake County, North Carolina
  • When: Around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday 7 November 2026
  • Reported toll: 1 killed, 20 injured
  • Driver: Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, charged with driving while impaired and more than a dozen felony offences, including hit-and-run
  • Status: The driver is in custody on a $1 million secured bond; the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating

What happened

Around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday 7 November 2026, a group of 30 cyclists from the Capital Cyclist Club was riding east along Optimist Farm Road in Wake County, near Apex and Holly Springs, when a black Infiniti crossed the centre line and hit them.

Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died at the scene. Twenty other cyclists were injured. Seven of the injured were taken to trauma centres, while others were treated at the scene or taken to local hospitals. A Wake County EMS bus was brought in to help transport the injured to hospital.

The State Highway Patrol said the driver continued for about half a mile before crashing his car. First responders arriving at the scene reported that a vehicle had hit 15 to 20 people. Optimist Farm Road has since reopened.

The driver and the charges

The driver was Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex. He was arrested and is charged with driving while impaired and more than a dozen felony offences, including hit-and-run. He was jailed at the Wake County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.

Impairment is listed as a possible factor in the crash. Police have not said whether alcohol, drugs or medication caused the impairment, and a State Highway Patrol spokesperson said the force could not speculate while the investigation continued. Arrest warrants describe the cyclists' injuries, including a leg injury.

One of the cyclists told WRAL that the group frequently rides along the route together. Bob Schroder, who lives near the crash scene, said he was a former cyclist himself and expressed sympathy for everyone who was hurt.

What happens next

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash, and the conditions of the injured cyclists are being confirmed. The driver's case will proceed through the courts in Wake County.

Source: WRAL — https://www.wral.com/news/local/several-injured-in-bicycle-crash-november-2026/ and WAFF — https://www.waff.com/2026/11/07/officials-1-dead-20-injured-crash-with-cyclists/

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Wake County cyclists crash?

One person died. Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died at the scene after the car hit the group of cyclists on Optimist Farm Road on 7 November 2026.

Where did the crash happen?

On Optimist Farm Road in Wake County, North Carolina, near Apex and Holly Springs. A group of 30 cyclists from the Capital Cyclist Club was riding east when a black Infiniti crossed the centre line and hit them.

How many cyclists were injured?

Twenty other cyclists were injured. Seven were taken to trauma centres, and others were treated at the scene or taken to local hospitals. A Wake County EMS bus helped transport the injured.

What happened to the driver?

The driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and more than a dozen felony offences, including hit-and-run. He is held at the Wake County Detention Center on a $1 million secured bond. Impairment is listed as a possible factor, but police have not confirmed whether alcohol, drugs or medication was involved.

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