One person is dead following an automobile-bicycle collision late Sunday night in Columbus.
The driver of the automobile has been charged with “Aggravated DUI” and is under arrest, according to Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry.
The incident occurred on the Highway 82 bypass in Columbus near the Military Road exit, with the vehicles traveling toward Starkville, MS.
44-year-old Bobby Wayne Higgins from Sulligent has been charged in the incident, which occurred just before midnight on December 10.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant will identify the victim following the notification of next of kin.
The male victim was riding a bicycle on the highway at night with no reflective clothing. “We are still investigating, but the man was riding a bicycle on the highway in the dark where the speed limit is 70 m.p.h.,” Chief Daughtry said. “He was struck by the car, and the driver did the right thing and called 911.”
“The driver told the operator that he had hit something on the bypass,” said Chief Daughtry. “Our officers responded and located the deceased victim. The driver was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital for safety precautions and a blood test. There was evidence of alcohol being used by the driver, and he was arrested. The driver of the vehicle was not injured,” Chief Daughtry added.
The case is still under investigation.
