A South Carolina man has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide in the death of a bicyclist in Athens.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department says they responded to a crash between a bicycle and Honda Accord around 11 p.m. Thursday on Tallassee Road that claimed the life of the cyclist.
According to the ACCPD, their initial investigation revealed that the bicyclist, a man from Athens, was traveling west on Tallassee Road. As the bicyclist approached the intersection with Westchester Drive, police say he was struck from behind by a 2020 Honda Accord.
The bicyclist was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His name has not yet been released.
The ACCPD says that they determined that driver of the Honda Accord, Luke Waldrop, 25, of Campobello, South Carolina, was under the influence of alcohol. Police arrested Waldrop and charged him with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide, and failure to provide clearance while passing a bicycle.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident should contact Athens-Clarke County police at 762-400-7087.
This is the fourth fatal crash of 2022 in Athens-Clarke County.
