This morning's NPS Digest is reporting that on March 17th, a bicyclist riding on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Friendship Hill Road, north of Tupelo, was physically assaulted by an unidentified person, leading to his hospitalization with severe injuries. The man’s bicycle was also damaged.
Rangers are currently conducting an investigation and are seeking the community’s assistance in identifying the assailant. He’s been identified as a white man in his 40s or 50s with short gray hair and a stocky build. He was driving a late model white crew cab pickup, possibly a Dodge, and would have been traveling south on the parkway late that afternoon. A reward of $500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Anyone with information about him should call the park at 662-680-4002. Rangers are also hoping to identify and talk with a witness who was at the scene and is thought to have been driving a dark colored four door sedan.
Jeff
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Natchez Trace Parkway
Investigation Underway Into Violent Assault on Bicyclist on the Natchez Trace
Monday, April 1, 2013
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3 comments
What was the cause of this?
Don't know - that's all the info I have at this point. Sounds like it might be random...
I've ridden the Natchez Trace, twice. Southbound in 2003 and northbound in 2012. I've never had any real problem, but the area around Tupelo, where the assault took place, is heavy with commuter traffic. (As is the Jackson area).
Sometimes in congested areas, folks can get uptight and in a hurry, and this can lead to road-rage. A cyclist can easily be targeted and victimized due to the lack of protection which is provided when you are in a car.
I sure hope this person is found and prosecuted. He obviously has dangerous and violent tendencies towards his fellow man. I hope the cyclist has a speedy and complete recovery.
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