Deputies say a Thursday evening group ride in Cherokee County turned scary when an SUV cut into a pack of cyclists and hit two riders near the intersection of Sugar Pike Road and Gantt Road. About 10 cyclists were on the road at the time. Paramedics treated the two injured riders at the scene for what officials described as minor injuries, and the driver took off before emergency crews arrived.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, a cyclist traveling behind the group captured the run-in on video and handed deputies the SUV's tag number, which investigators say helped them quickly zero in on a suspect. Deputies later located the vehicle and noted damage on the passenger side that they say lined up with the reported collision.
How Deputies Say It Unfolded
Investigators identified the driver as 72-year-old Jerry Wayne Ross of Woodstock and say they found him at a nearby home. When questioned, Ross "acknowledged the encounter but blamed the cyclists," FOX 5 Atlanta reports.
Charges and Custody
Per the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Ross faces two counts of aggravated assault, as well as charges of hit-and-run, reckless driving, aggressive driving and failure to maintain a safe distance from a bicycle. Authorities say he is being held without bond at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.
What the Law Says
Georgia law requires drivers to leave a "safe distance" of at least three feet when passing a bicyclist, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56 (Justia). Aggravated assault is defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21 and is a felony that can carry a prison term if someone is convicted (Justia).
Investigators have asked anyone who recorded video or witnessed the crash to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office with information. The case is expected to move through local court, where prosecutors will decide on formal filings and set arraignment dates as the investigation continues.
