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Motorist hit cyclist twice, report says
by Emily Le Coz/NEMS Daily Journal
11 months ago | 13402 views | 6 6 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend | print
David and Jan Morgan are Starkville residents who enjoy cycling.
Jan was riding her bicycle in Clay County recently when she was struck by a car. (Courtsey)
David and Jan Morgan are Starkville residents who enjoy cycling. Jan was riding her bicycle in Clay County recently when she was struck by a car. (Courtsey)
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TUPELO – After hitting Starkville cyclist Jan Morgan with her car on May 22, the driver then ran over Morgan again, according to an accident report obtained Tuesday by the Daily Journal.

The report was written by the Mississippi Highway Patrol, which investigated the accident on Highway 50 in Clay County. It is not public record but was given to the Daily Journal by Morgan’s husband.

“It’s horrible,” David Morgan said from North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where his wife has been in critical condition since the accident.

Despite wearing a helmet, Jan Morgan suffered numerous cuts, bruises, broken bones and head trauma during the crash and remains in an induced coma. She has made mild improvements the past 12 days, but her prognosis isn’t known.

The driver was identified in the report as 44-year-old Cedarbluff resident Robbine Norton. She has not been charged in connection with the incident.

“I was in shock,” Norton told the Daily Journal when contacted by phone Tuesday.

She said she remembers hitting Morgan and getting out of her car to check on the 57-year-old woman. But she doesn’t remember getting back in the vehicle and driving over her again as she lay unconscious on the road.

“There was a lot going on at the time,” Norton said. “People were yelling.”

According to the report, “the driver ... exited the vehicle and observed the cyclist while talking on the phone. (She) then reentered her vehicle and ran the cyclist over again before being forced from her vehicle by witnesses.”

Several witnesses were listed in the report.

Norton disputed speaking on the phone while checking on Morgan and said she wasn’t talking while driving, either.

“When I got out of the vehicle I picked up my cell phone to call for help,” Norton said, “but somebody was already calling for help.”

The report, despite its description of the accident and its aftermath, checks “No” in the category asking whether a cellular phone was in use by the driver.
Comments
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taxpayercyclist
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June 22, 2011
Is Emily Le Coz working on this story? Has she interviewed the MHP and the local prosecutor? Has she called the Commissioner of Public Safety? This could be a great story for her, and would help Jan and her family. Let's get on it.

This is day 31!!!
BikeWalkMS
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June 07, 2011
Join us as we wear yellow on Friday, June 10 to honor fallen and injured Mississippi cyclists like Jan:

http://www.bikewalkmississippi.org/BWMS/?p=496
hdmatthias
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June 05, 2011
Is Emily Le Coz working on this story? Has she interviewed the MHP and the local prosecutor? Has she called the Commissioner of Public Safety? This could be a great story for her, and would help Jan and her family. Let's get on it.
dirtydogsouth360
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June 03, 2011
Sounds like this piece of trailer trash is playing the I don't know game when its clear that several people saw what happened...

Do all of us a favor Robbin, you know what I mean
LeeCoDave
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June 03, 2011
Don't you automatically break the 3 ft law when you hit a cyclist?
MJH80
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June 03, 2011
Why is this woman not in jail? Running over the cyclist twice, then lying about being on the phone (I've seen the full police report, and it indicates that she emerged from the car on her phone)? And showing no remorse or responsibility for her act? She is obviously not fit to function in society!