Cyclist killed in hit-and-run crash near Smithfield



Updated May 27, 2023 at 4:29 PM

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver after a cyclist was fatally struck by a car east of Smithfield, news outlets report.

Just before 11 p.m. Thursday, the man was hit on Braswell Road by a driver who fled the scene.

The cyclist had no identification and was not wearing reflective clothing or a helmet, according to the Johnston County Report[1].

As of early Friday afternoon, the name of the cyclist had not been released.

The State Highway Patrol is looking for a blue SUV that may have been involved in the crash. The car may have a broken headlight or other front-end damage[2], WRAL reported.

Pedestrian killed in Chapel Hill

Also Thursday night, John Holman, a 77-year-old pedestrian, died after being hit[3] on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Perkins Drive in Chapel Hil.

The driver in that incident stayed until police arrived. That investigation was also continuing Friday morning.

On Wednesday, the city of Durham will hold a bike Ride of Silence beginning at CCB Plaza at 201 N. Corcoran St.

This year’s ride is expected to take on special significance because city budget director John Allore, 59, was fatally hit by a car[4] while riding his bike on Bradshaw Quarry Road in Orange County on March 30.

Anyone with information related to the fatal crash in Johnston County is asked to contact the State Highway Patrol.

We will update this story when more information becomes available.

Originally published May 12, 2023 at 6:33 PM

References

  1. ^ according to the Johnston County Report (jocoreport.com)
  2. ^ front-end damage (www.wral.com)
  3. ^ died after being hit (www.newsobserver.com)
  4. ^ fatally hit by a car (www.newsobserver.com)