Coral Springs driver accused of dragging bicyclist by his shirt and running over his foot during road-rage confrontation
Coral Springs, Florida – A Coral Springs man was arrested after police said a confrontation between a driver and a group of bicyclists escalated into a physical altercation on Coral Ridge Drive.
Kenneth Darren Hurley, 55, was arrested Aug. 13 and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to a Coral Springs Police Department arrest report. The case began after officers were called to the area of 3000 Coral Ridge Drive regarding a reported aggravated battery.
Police said the incident involved several bicyclists who were traveling north in the bicycle lane when they encountered a driver in a black Lexus. According to the riders, the driver began honking and yelling at them and allegedly tried to force them off the road.
What began as a traffic-related confrontation reportedly became more serious when the driver stopped his vehicle and got out.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hurley allegedly confronted the riders and attacked one of them. Another bicyclist attempted to use a cellphone to record what was happening, but police said Hurley slapped the phone out of his hand.
The confrontation then continued as Hurley returned to his Lexus. Police allege that he grabbed one of the bicyclists by his shirt as he started to drive away.
The bicyclist told officers that he was dragged by his shirt as the vehicle moved. He eventually managed to break free of Hurley’s grip, according to the report.
Police said the rider’s shirt was extensively torn during the incident. Investigators also noted a tire scuff mark on the bicyclist’s left sandal, which police said was consistent with the account provided by the rider.
The allegations did not end with the reported dragging incident. Police also said the driver ran over the bicyclist’s foot during the confrontation, leading to the aggravated battery charge.
The investigation included video and photographic evidence. One of the bicyclists had recorded part of the confrontation, according to police, giving investigators video footage to review as they worked to establish what happened.
Investigators also obtained an image of the black Lexus involved in the incident. Police then determined that the vehicle was registered to Hurley at a residence near the 11500 block of Northwest 33rd Street.
Read also: Two Coral Springs men arrested after allegedly confronting couple with machetes
The information helped investigators identify the driver they believed was involved in the confrontation.
Road-rage incidents can quickly become dangerous when disagreements between motorists and other road users move beyond verbal exchanges. In this case, police said the confrontation began while bicyclists were using the designated bicycle lane on Coral Ridge Drive before escalating after the driver stopped his vehicle.
The arrest report describes a series of actions that police say occurred within the confrontation, including yelling and honking, an alleged attempt to force the bicyclists off the roadway, a physical confrontation, the alleged interference with a cellphone recording and the incident involving the bicyclist’s shirt and foot.
Hurley was ultimately taken into custody on Aug. 13. After his arrest, he was transported to the Broward County Main Jail.
The charge against Hurley is an allegation, and the arrest report represents the account provided by police in connection with the investigation. The case stems from the reported confrontation on Coral Ridge Drive and the evidence collected by investigators, including statements from bicyclists, video footage and an image of the vehicle.
Police continue to rely on evidence gathered at the scene and during the investigation to establish what took place. The arrest marked the latest development in a case that began with what officers described as an aggravated battery involving a driver and bicyclists.
The incident serves as another example of how quickly a disagreement on the road can escalate. What police described as a dispute involving a vehicle and cyclists ultimately resulted in an arrest and a felony-level aggravated battery charge.
