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Jerry Ross, 72, faces charges including aggravated assault and hit-and-run after his car struck two cyclists outside Atlanta; one rider suffered a fractured spine. Ross says he did nothing wrong and blames the cyclists, while video described in reporting appears to show them riding two-abreast on the right side of the lane. The case was due to be presented at an arraignment on November 4, though the source report does not confirm the hearing’s outcome.
Jerry Ross, 72, faces four charges after his car struck two cyclists during an attempted pass near Atlanta, and he says he believes he did nothing wrong. One rider, Richard Collins, suffered a fractured spine; Ross is reported to have been due in court for arraignment on November 4, but the available report does not give the hearing’s outcome.
Footage described in the original report shows Ross approaching the group while repeatedly sounding his horn, then steering toward the riders. His wing mirror struck one cyclist, who stayed upright, before the car collided with Collins, who fell. Ross left the scene, according to the report. The incident took place on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia.
The charges listed for presentation at arraignment were aggravated assault, aggressive driving, hit-and-run, and failing to maintain distance. Ross told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was tired of cyclists doing “what the hell they want” and said he believed Collins had hit him. He also described the riders as travelling three-abreast. These are Ross’s claims; the report says the video appears to show the group riding two-abreast on the right-hand side of the lane.
Collins sustained a fractured spine and road rash on his shoulder, elbow and knee. After six weeks of rest, he was riding again, according to the report. He 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.”
The Charges and the Three-Foot Rule
The case concerns both alleged violence on the road and the legal obligations drivers have when passing cyclists. Georgia law, as described in the report, requires drivers to leave at least three feet when passing a cyclist. The report says Ross’s car does not appear to maintain that clearance during the pass shown in the footage. Whether prosecutors can prove the charges, and how the court assesses the evidence, remain matters for the legal process.
The reported injuries underline the consequences a collision can have even when a cyclist survives. Collins’s fractured spine required six weeks of rest, according to the source. The case has also drawn attention to public reactions that blame cyclists for occupying the road, despite the report’s description of the riders as travelling two-abreast and on the right side of the lane.
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What the Video and Law Show
Ross was arrested in May, according to the original report, which cited video of the incident. That footage is described as showing the group riding two-abreast on the right side of the lane. The source says Georgia law permits that position. Ross, by contrast, told police the cyclists were riding three-abreast and later said they had blocked the lane.
The local newspaper’s profile also described Ross as a “fragile man” who experienced bouts of dizziness and vertigo. That description is attributed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and does not establish what caused the collision. Ross reportedly said he was “just tired” of cyclists doing what they wanted. He has said he plans to appeal any conviction to the Supreme Court.
The source report also questioned aspects of the newspaper’s framing, including suggestions that the cyclists might not have followed the law or could have moved farther right. Those assertions are not established by the material provided. The applicable passing clearance cited in the report is three feet in Georgia; it is distinct from the UK’s 1.5-metre rule.
““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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Court Outcome and Evidence Still Pending
The source says Ross was due to be arraigned on Wednesday, November 4, but does not confirm whether the hearing took place or report its result. It also does not provide a subsequent court date, plea, verdict or sentence. The listed charges are allegations, not proof of guilt.
The material does not include the full video, police reports, court filings or a detailed response from Ross’s legal representation. Ross’s account that Collins hit his car and his claim that the cyclists blocked the lane are not independently established in the supplied reporting. The exact sequence of events and any legal findings remain unresolved here.
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Arraignment and Possible Appeal
The next reported milestone was Ross’s arraignment, where the charges were due to be presented. The report does not establish whether that appearance occurred, so the current court status is unknown from the available information. Any later hearings, plea or trial would determine how the allegations are tested.
Ross has said he intends to appeal any conviction to the Supreme Court, but no conviction is reported in the source material. Further updates would be needed to establish the court’s decisions, the status of the charges and whether an appeal is filed.
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Key Questions
What is Jerry Ross accused of?
The report says Ross faces aggravated assault, aggressive driving, hit-and-run, and failing to maintain distance after his car struck two cyclists. The charges are allegations; the source does not report a verdict.
How badly was Richard Collins injured?
Collins suffered a fractured spine and road rash on his shoulder, elbow and knee. The report says he rested for six weeks and later returned to riding.
What does Georgia law require when passing a cyclist?
The source report says Georgia law requires drivers to leave at least three feet when passing a cyclist. It says the footage does not appear to show Ross maintaining that distance.
Did Ross say he was guilty?
No. Ross said he believed he had done nothing wrong and blamed the cyclists for riding in the road. Those are his claims, not a court finding.
Has the case gone to court?
The report says Ross was due to be arraigned on November 4, but it does not provide the hearing’s outcome or any later court developments.
Source: rss
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