Chapel Hill Police: 1 Bicyclist Critically Injured on West Franklin Street

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect new information shared by Chapel Hill Police on Wednesday.

The Chapel Hill Police Department is continuing a crash investigation from Tuesday that left a bicyclist with life-threatening injuries on Franklin Street.

On Tuesday, the police department shared at 12:10 p.m. that Franklin Street was closed between Roberson Street and Graham Street due to a crash involving a bicyclist and a vehicle. According to a social media message from Chapel Hill Police, the bicyclist was taken to UNC Hospitals for treatment.

A further update on Wednesday from police revealed the bicyclist was traveling west on the popular road when a parked car opened its door for a person to exit the vehicle. The open door hit the passing bicyclist, causing them to be thrown from their cycle and land onto the road.

Chapel Hill Police said as of Wednesday afternoon, the involved bicyclist remains at UNC Hospitals with life-threatening injuries.

The crash came hours before another incident in Chapel Hill that sent multiple people to the hospital. A driver drove their vehicle through the fence and into a playground at Northside Elementary School after reportedly hitting their gas pedal instead of the brakes. Chapel Hill Police said Tuesday the driver and three children were injured in the incident, with the driver later being charged with a safe-movement violation.

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