The Augusta driver who first hit a bicyclist last month on Olive Road has been charged with causing his death.
Franklin White, 60, was charged Wednesday with homicide by vehicle and driving on the wrong side of the roadway. He is accused of causing the death of 53-year-old Marico Dorsey.
Dorsey was struck around 7 p.m. Jan. 11 while riding his bicycle in the center left-turn lane on Olive Road. He died from his injuries two weeks later on Jan. 25.
White told authorities that he was driving on Olive Road and saw another vehicle turning onto Olive Road from Eagles Way. He said he swerved to avoid hitting that vehicle and struck the bicyclist.
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“When he swerved, he saw the bicycle fly into the air and was unable to stop in time,” an accident report says.
Members of The Purpose Center – located on Olive Road –came out to surround Dorsey and pray for him when a van suddenly came along and struck them.
The driver of the older-model Ford Econoline van, 82-year-old Clinton Jones, said he was trying to avoid the vehicle from the previous crash and did not see the members of the church group before striking them.
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An accident report faults the church members for “standing in the roadway.” Six of the church members went to the hospital for injuries, including some in serious condition. Their ages range from 27-62.
The leader of The Purpose Center, Yannik McKie, posted a message on Jan. 20 about their recovery:
“I want you all to know how much we appreciate your prayers and support. Through God’s grace, we are striving to turn pain into purpose. Please continue to be in prayer all the families impacted … As for our volunteers, I am so grateful for a team that cares more about Christ than their comfort! Our staff thought this was the perfect opportunity to model the resilience we teach the students about daily! They got right back to work serving these students and counselors came and helped our students process the trauma and talk through their feelings.”
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
