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Jerry Wayne Ross, a 72-year-old driver from Cherokee County, Georgia, USA, was arrested on suspicion of hitting cyclists with his car and fleeing the scene.
The incident was captured on a camera mounted on a bicycle. The video, captioned "What cyclists experience in real life," has garnered nearly 8 million views on Instagram alone.
In the video, the driver approaches a group of cyclists riding in two lanes while continuously honking his horn. During the overtaking maneuver, he steered the car towards the group, first making contact with one rider's arm with the side mirror and then directly hitting another rider, causing them to fall.
Richard Collins, the injured cyclist, described the situation: "The driver honked for almost two minutes. The sound was getting closer, and the rider behind me was first hit by the car's side mirror. When I turned left, the car was hitting my left leg."
Collins sustained abrasions on his shoulder, elbow, and knee. Subsequent orthopedic examination revealed a fractured vertebra in his lower back.
The driver fled the scene after the accident, but police discovered vehicle damage and eventually located Ross hiding at a nearby resident's house.
He is currently facing six charges:
* Two counts of aggravated assault
* Reckless driving
* Hit-and-run
* Failure to maintain safe distance
However, Ross denied responsibility during police questioning, claiming: "The cyclists were riding in the middle of the road."
Following the incident, the injured cyclist stated in an interview: "I hope this event raises awareness about the regulation requiring drivers to maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet (approximately 90 cm) when overtaking cyclists."
