1 cyclist killed, 20 hurt after impaired driver hits them, officials say

Cyclist killed, 20-plus injured after driver crashes into group A 76-year-old man is accused of being impaired when he drove his car into a group of cyclists on a wooded, two-lane road outside of Raleigh, North Carolina Saturday. One cyclist died and at least 20 others were injured. (WRAL) The Brief One cyclist was killed and at least 20 others were hurt after an alleged impaired driver crashed into them during a cycling event in North Carolina Saturday morning. Troopers say the cycling club was riding on a wooded forest road in Wake County, about 14 miles outside of Raleigh, when an oncoming car crossed the center line and drove into the group. The driver, 76-year-old Donald Morris-Jones is facing 19 criminal charges. A North Carolina man is facing 19 criminal charges after reportedly driving into a cycling club on a rural county road outside Raleigh Saturday morning, killing one cyclist and injuring at least 20 more. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the suspect, 76-year-old Donald Morris-Jones, was impaired at the time of the crash. Cyclist killed What we know: Troopers told WRAL the group of cyclists were riding on a wooded forest road in Wake County, about 14 miles outside of Raleigh, when an oncoming car crossed the center line and drove into the group. According to Highway Patrol, the driver, later identified as Morris-Jones, kept driving after hitting the cyclists, then reportedly drove his car into a ditch about a half-mile down the road. Donald Morris-Jones (North Carolina State Highway Patrol via WRAL) "A vehicle just hit 15 to 20 pedestrians. The driver is currently out stumbling around at this time," a 911 caller told the dispatcher. Highway Patrol said one of the cyclists, 63-year-old Patrick Turner, was killed, and at least seven of the 20-plus people injured were taken to a trauma center. Morris-Jones was arrested on 19 charges, including driving while impaired, death by vehicle, eight counts of hit-and-run and seven counts of injuring someone with a car. RELATED: Two Milligan University cyclists killed, others hurt after car crashes into team What we don't know: Authorities haven’t said what substance Morris-Jones is suspected of taking before the crash. First responders on scene of fatal crash involving cycling club (WRAL) ‘This happens far too often’ What they're saying: Lynn Osborne, a cyclist who often rides with the group that was hit, said incidents like this happen "far too often" in the cycling community. MORE: Explosion, fire at illegal North Carolina distillery leads to arrest "[I’m] angry, honestly, very angry," Osborne told WRAL . "And I regret that that is the initial reaction, but this happens far too often." The Source: This report includes information from North Carolina State Highway Patrol and video and information from WRAL. Crime and Public Safety North Carolina