BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/man-charged-after-bicyclist-struck-downtown/nSb56/

Man charged after bicyclist struck downtown

Claudia Grisales

American-Statesman Staff

A 25-year-old man was in jail Friday after police say he seriously injured a bicyclist with his SUV and drove more than eight blocks in downtown Austin before stopping.

Truett Don Jones is facing felony charges of intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid, police said. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a crash, which occurred about 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Police said Jones struck the bicyclist and a parked vehicle in the 1700 block of Guadalupe Street before jumping a curb, losing a tire and then driving back onto the roadway and several more downtown streets.

The bicyclist, who was found at the scene of the original crash, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in serious condition, police said.

“Additional charges could be filed,” police Sgt. David McDonald said from the scene Friday. “The crime scene stretches for several blocks. He was dragging the bicycle.”

The incident triggered extensive delays Friday for morning commuters and residents of nearby neighborhoods as police investigated the multiple crime scenes. Several roadways, including Guadalupe, remained closed for more than five hours.

After hitting the bicyclist, police said the driver continued south in his SUV on Guadalupe before turning west onto 15th Street, dragging the bicycle another six blocks away until turning again at West Avenue. The remnants of the mangled bicycle were found at 15th Street and West Avenue.

The driver then continued north on West Avenue before turning west on 17th Street and coming to a stop more than eight blocks away from the original crash scene near Pearl Street.

Jones was found by police and booked into Travis County Jail shortly before 7 a.m., jail records show. Public records show Jones lived at an apartment close to where he and the SUV were found. Jones was also shown to have previously lived in San Antonio and Lubbock.

Austin police Sgt. David Daniels said he could not elaborate on how or where police took Jones into custody, but said he was found close to the vehicle.

Public records also show a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested Jones on Aug. 12 in Seguin in Guadalupe County. Jones was charged with marijuana possession of less than three ounces and released the following the day, records show.