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Jerry Ross, 72, faces aggravated assault, aggressive driving, hit-and-run and following-distance charges after driving into a group of cyclists near Atlanta. Video cited in the report shows his car strike two riders; Richard Collins suffered a fractured spine and later returned to cycling. Ross says he did nothing wrong, and the charges and his account have not been resolved in court.
Jerry Ross, a 72-year-old Georgia motorist charged after driving into a group of cyclists near Atlanta, says he believes he did nothing wrong, according to a profile by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution cited by road.cc. Video of the incident shows his car strike two riders, one of whom fell and suffered a fractured spine; Ross faces four charges, including aggravated assault and hit-and-run.
The incident happened on the outskirts of Atlanta. In footage described by road.cc, Ross approaches the group while repeatedly sounding his horn, then steers toward the riders. His wing mirror hits one cyclist, who remains upright, before the car collides with another rider, who falls. The report says the video shows the group riding two abreast on the right side of the lane.
The rider who fell, Richard Collins, sustained a fractured spine and road rash to his shoulder, elbow and knee. He rested for six weeks and has since returned to riding, according to road.cc. Collins told Fox5 Atlanta:
“I just hope this experience will raise awareness to the rules of the road for cyclists, and how drivers should allow for the three feet distance in safe passing.”
Ross told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he believed the cyclist hit him. He also described being tired of riders doing “what the hell they want,” and said they were riding three abreast, according to the report. The charges listed are aggravated assault, aggressive driving, hit-and-run and failing to maintain distance. These are charges, not findings of guilt.
A Collision With Serious Injury
The case concerns both a serious injury and the rules governing how drivers pass cyclists. Georgia law requires drivers overtaking a cyclist to leave at least three feet of clearance, according to the source report. Road.cc says the video does not appear to show Ross maintaining that distance during the pass.
The dispute has also drawn attention because Ross’s account conflicts with the video as described in the reporting, while online comments have blamed the riders for not riding single file. The case may turn on evidence and legal arguments presented in court; social-media responses do not establish responsibility. For cyclists and drivers, the outcome could clarify how the charges are applied to this particular collision, but it does not settle every disagreement about road-sharing.
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What the Video and Law Show
Road.cc reported Ross’s arrest in May. It says the footage shows cyclists riding two abreast on the right-hand side of the lane, a formation the report describes as permitted under state law. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution profile, as summarized by road.cc, describes Ross as experiencing bouts of dizziness and vertigo. That is background reported by the newspaper, not a finding about what caused the collision.
Georgia’s stated passing rule differs from the UK distance cited for comparison in the source: drivers in Georgia must leave at least three feet, or about 0.91 metres, when passing a cyclist. Road.cc’s account says the footage shows no point at which Ross appears to provide that buffer. Whether the footage, witness evidence and other material meet the legal tests for each charge is for the court to determine.
““I just hope this experience will raise awareness to the rules of the road for cyclists, and how drivers should allow for the three feet distance in safe passing.””
— Richard Collins, speaking to Fox5 Atlanta
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Questions Awaiting Court Review
Ross’s guilt has not been established. The source says he was due to be arraigned on November 4, but does not give the year, confirm whether the arraignment took place or report any later court outcome. It also does not provide a plea, a full account from prosecutors or the result of any subsequent proceedings.
The available account does not establish why Ross’s car veered toward the group or resolve every disputed detail of the encounter. The newspaper profile’s references to dizziness and vertigo do not, on their own, explain his driving at the time. The source also reports Ross’s intention to appeal any conviction to the Supreme Court, but gives no detail on what legal route or grounds he might pursue.
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Arraignment and Case Status
The next reported court milestone is Ross’s arraignment, where the four charges were due to be presented. The source material does not confirm whether that hearing occurred or provide a later schedule. The status of the case, any plea and any rulings therefore remain unverified in the available reporting.
If proceedings continue, evidence about the collision—including the video and accounts from those involved—may be considered as the court addresses the allegations. Ross has said he intends to appeal a conviction, but that is a stated intention, not a confirmed future court action.
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Key Questions
What is Jerry Ross accused of?
He faces charges of aggravated assault, aggressive driving, hit-and-run and failing to maintain distance after a collision with cyclists. The charges are allegations, not a conviction.
How badly was Richard Collins injured?
Collins suffered a fractured spine and road rash on his shoulder, elbow and knee. Road.cc reports he rested for six weeks and later returned to cycling.
What does Georgia law require when passing a cyclist?
The source report says Georgia law requires a driver passing a cyclist to leave at least three feet of clearance.
Has the court decided whether Ross is guilty?
No outcome is confirmed in the source material. It reports an arraignment scheduled for November 4 but does not specify the year or say whether the hearing took place.
Source: rss
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