Local News

'Paint is not infrastructure.' Bicyclists call for additional safety after man injured in hit-and-run

The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking the public for help as they search for a hit-and-run driver involved in a Wednesday morning crash.

Posted Updated

By
Julian Grace
, WRAL anchor/reporter
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking the public for help as they search for a hit-and-run driver involved in a Wednesday morning crash.

Officers responded to a crash on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Municipal Drive before 6 a.m.

The bicyclist, William Marchal, was hit by a vehicle, and the driver left the scene of the crash, police said.

"All I saw was headlights. That was it," Marchal said.

Marchal said he had one thought just before his body hit the pavement.

"The first [thought] was this is how I die. I felt the thud. I saw the pavement. I was waiting for the tire to run over me at that point," he said.

He was treated and released from UNC Hospitals.

Marchal said he's an experienced driver who follows the rules and stays in his lanes.

"I had two rear lights - one solid and one blinking - a solid reflective bag and bright headlight. I don't know what else I can do to be visible," he said.

Now, placing one foot in front of the other is quite the task for Marchal.

Last weekend, Chapel Hill made targeted patrols at the intersections where drivers, pedestrians and cyclists meet. The increased patrols comes after a passing SUV hit two teenage girls.

"Just please drive the speed limit," said Marchal. "Please slow down."

Police have conducted around 70 targeted patrols and charged drivers. Marchal said he wants barriers to be put up in Chapel Hill to protect bicyclists.

"It's frustrating at the same time in the cycling community. There is a saying that, 'Paint is not infrastructure,'" he said.

Chapel Hill leaders said they're working to improve safety for bicyclists, including installing flashing signs, bike lanes and sidewalks in various areas of town.

Anyone with information about the driver is asked to call 911 or contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-968-2760. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.

Related Topics

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.