Members of the Triangle’s cycling community are pushing for more awareness on the roads after a crash Saturday killed a rider and injured several others near Holly Springs.
Police confirm that Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died, and 20 others were injured after a car ran into the group of bicyclists.
The driver in the crash, Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, is facing more than a dozen felony charges, including hit-and-run and DWI.
Alejandro Sandoval is a cyclist who is a part of a handful of groups in the Wake County area. He was riding with another group nearby in Holly Springs when he heard of the crash.
“It was devastating,” Sandoval said. “We all know at least someone on that team or that group that got affected by this.”
While many have shown support for those affected by the crash, Sandoval has noticed backlash online.
“You jump into the the comment section of of every video or report out there, and you see how much people are upset or angry at the cyclist…I’ve read a couple comments that they say like we don’t have enough accidents, so it was a little bit overwhelming to to see that,” he said. “A lot of us took it personal because we are out there unprotected in a way from a car that that is just scary.”
Sandoval says they are aware of the risks that come with cycling on the road.
North Carolina state law allows bicycles to travel on public roadways. Many members of the cycling community are also asking drivers to be aware.
“I would just like people to know that we both belong in the roads, drivers and cyclists,” he said.
Sandoval also said it is safer for cyclists to ride in large groups.
“If you stay in a group, it helps in the curves where a driver might not see you,” he said. “We try to take the whole lane…so they can see us as soon as they come out from a curve or from the distance.”
He also said groups often have lights on and wear helmets.
Even with added protection, Sandoval says many riders tell him they are worried to get back on their bikes.
“The fear is always there….you can feel the air passing when a car passes you, and it’s a little bit frightening,” he said. “You just have to get over it and and and see that you are doing this for a higher purpose.”
That higher purpose–a sense of community and raising money for local charities.
“We live in a world where we want to isolate from everything,” he said. “Joining a club, cyclist club, you can exercise, and you can build community. You can build relationships with other people from all walks of life.”