KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. - A 26-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning after allegedly hitting a bicyclist while driving with a BAC over twice the legal limit.
According to the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, the victim, a Russian foreign exchange student, was riding her bicycle southbound on US 158 around 3:22 a.m. when the incident occurred. The bicyclist was riding in accordance with the law, with both a reflector and a light on her bicycle.
After she was hit by the car, the driver appeared to have stopped briefly before driving away.
The driver of a Sysco delivery truck noticed the bicyclist lying in the road and called 911.
When KDH Police officers arrived on scene, they found debris from the vehicle still at the scene, including a side mirror and portions of a fender.
A short time later, an officer noticed a white Nissan Altima driving in the area with damaged areas that corresponded with the broken vehicle parts found at the scene.
The officer stopped the driver, 26-year-old Jacob McCarthy of Manteo, and found that the parts matched his vehicle.
McCarthy was given a sobriety test and it was discovered that his blood alcohol content was .19, over twice the legal limit.
He has been charged with DWI and Felony Hit and Run.
The victim was transported to Outer Banks Hospital and treated for serious injuries.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Police say they believe there was at least one, and possibly more, passengers in McCarthy's vehicle at the time of the incident. He was alone when he was arrested.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Kill Devil Hills Police Department at 252-473-3111.
