A video of a black vehicle knocking down a cyclist in Canton, Georgia (Cherokee County), has gone viral, leading to the arrest of the 72-year-old driver. From his smile in the mugshot, he appears to have no regrets about the incident.
Confrontations involving cyclists and other motorists have become quite common on social media, unless the algorithm has been showing you something else entirely.
The topic of most conflicts surrounds whether a slow cyclist can block the entire lane, making it nearly impossible for a car to pass unless the driver is permitted to overtake.
Things could get hotter if the cyclist leaves a designated cycle lane to block other motorists. In this video from Georgia, a group of cyclists reportedly held up what appears to be a black Honda Pilot crossover SUV for quite a while before leaving him frustrated.
Driver Honked Behind Cyclists For Two Minutes Before Going All In
Footage of the incident on Instagram shows the driver of the black SUV honking constantly, highlighting the desperate urge to find a clear path ahead, which was blocked by a group of cyclists.
Despite the honking, the cyclists did not give way. No attempt was made to let the vehicle pass, which likely irritated the driver. He then crossed the double yellow line and drove beside the cyclists as if trying to push them toward the outer edge of the road.
In trying to do so, he sideswiped one of the cyclists, who instantly fell, while the black SUV fled the scene. The group of cyclists immediately stopped for the injured rider, with one of them saying, “It’s alright, I got it on video. I got it on video.”
A report by Fox 5 Atlanta reveals that the SUV driver was honking for two minutes before the vehicle’s side mirror struck a cyclist and knocked over group leader Richard Collins of the North Georgia Cycling Association.
While Collins was eventually treated at the scene of the incident by paramedics for injuries to his shoulder, elbow, and knee, a visit to the orthopedist later led to the discovery of a fracture in his lower spine.
View this post on Instagram
SUV Driver Blames It on the Cyclists
Following the incident, Cherokee County Sheriff’s officials arrested the driver of the black SUV, Jerry Wayne Ross, from his neighbor’s house.
He faces several charges, including hit-and-run, aggressive driving, and failing to maintain a safe distance from a bicycle.
When deputies questioned Ross, he blamed the cyclists, claiming that they were blocking his path.
Notably, Georgia law requires drivers to maintain a distance of at least three feet when passing cyclists.
Collins hopes this incident will inform people about the minimum distance they are required to maintain while passing cyclists. He said:
“I just hope this experience will raise awareness to the rules of the road, for cyclists, and how drivers should allow for the 3 feet distance in safe passing.”
Driver seen on video hitting cyclists after honking at group, then smiles in mugshot: https://t.co/zwBdBKJIyi pic.twitter.com/bSqmuWvtOk
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) May 2, 2026