A cyclist in Asheville was injured when a motorist got out of his vehicle and assaulted him at an intersection. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, this road rage incident happened near the construction area on Sand Hill Road. Initial reports indicate that the cyclist was keeping with the pace of traffic prior to the incident. The driver, apparently frustrated that he was unable to pass the cyclist, got out of his truck at a stop light and attacked the cyclist. Claude Watson punched the cyclist in the face before retreating back into his pickup truck and taking off. Thankfully, the whole incident was caught on another vehicle’s dashboard camera.

Cyclist in Asheville Assaulted by Driver

Prior to the assault, the cyclist reported that the driver tried to pass him and came so close to him that he had to swerve his bicycle to keep from being run off of the roadway. Watson has since been arrested. He was charged with simple assault and reckless driving to endanger. Many people in the Asheville cyclist community are not surprised, and have faced similar situations on roadways around town.

U.S. Bicycle Crash Facts

  • In 2015, there were 818 cyclists killed in crashes across the U.S.
  • An additional 45,000 cyclists were injured in traffic crashes in 2015.
  • 70 percent of cyclists who died in motor vehicle crashes died in urban areas.
  • The cyclist fatality rate per million people was almost six times higher for males than females in 2015.
  • Over the 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, the average age of cyclist killed in motor vehicle crashes increased form 41 to 45 years old.

Cyclists Are Vulnerable Roadway Users

Cyclists continue to be one of the more vulnerable roadway user groups in Asheville and across the nation. Even with reflective gear and safety devices like helmets, cyclists are at risk for injury-causing and even potentially deadly crashes if motor vehicle drivers aren’t safely sharing the road. If motor vehicle drivers are distracted or engaging in aggressive or threatening driving behaviors, they’re endangering the lives of cyclists, pedestrians, motorcycle riders and other drivers.

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident in Asheville or in any of the surrounding Western North Carolina communities, contact the skilled and proven team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 828-279-7799 for a free consultation.