A Lexington motorcyclist is facing a lengthy recovery after a driver allegedly bumped into him on a city street, drove away, then circled back and ran him over in an apartment complex parking lot. Zach Dailey remains hospitalized with multiple serious injuries, including 10 broken ribs, a broken collarbone and more, according to a friend who witnessed the entire encounter unfold.
The ordeal began on Oliver Lewis Way, where a driver in a white Chevrolet Malibu allegedly bumped into Dailey before driving away, according to LEX 18 News. Michael Shumate, who was riding motorcycles alongside Dailey that night, said he followed the vehicle into the parking lot of The Lex Apartments, located off South Broadway, hoping to get the driver's license plate and identify them. Shumate said he and Dailey then tried to talk with the driver about being mindful of motorcyclists on the road.
Instead of that conversation happening, Shumate said the driver pulled away, then returned and drove straight toward Dailey. “The driver knocked Dailey in the street,” Shumate told the outlet, before describing what came next as the vehicle hit Dailey a second time and ran him over.
Surveillance Video Shows the Vehicle Circling Back
Surveillance footage reviewed by WKYT appears to show the car leaving the parking lot, then circling back around and driving toward both Dailey and Shumate. The same video allegedly shows Dailey being thrown onto the hood of the vehicle before falling to the ground and being run over, according to the LEX 18 report. The station reported it did not air the footage because of its graphic nature.
Shumate said he has no doubt the driver meant to hurt his friend. “There's no way that it wasn't intentional,” he said. He believes the driver intentionally targeted Dailey rather than the collision being some kind of accident, though that belief has not been confirmed by any official investigation.
Extensive Injuries and a Long Road Ahead
Dailey's injuries are extensive. Shumate described 10 broken ribs, five on each side, along with a broken collarbone. The same account detailed in the WKYT report adds a broken nose, a shoulder fractured in two places, and six stitches in his other arm. Dailey, who owns a mechanic shop, was initially treated in the intensive care unit at UK Hospital before being moved to another unit, where he remains in stable but rough condition.
Lexington police are investigating the incident and are working to identify the driver, though no arrest or charges have been reported. The precise timing of the collision has not been fully pinned down, though police said they responded to the hit-and-run just after midnight Thursday, per the station's report.
Friends Rally Around Dailey's Recovery
Friends and family have established a GoFundMe account to help cover expenses during Dailey's recovery, though details on the fundraising goal or amount raised were not provided. Shumate said his friend needs all the support he can get as he faces a long physical recovery from the attack. For now, the biggest unanswered question remains the identity of the driver who police say fled the scene.
