Police have released a surveillance video of the vehicle suspected of hitting an Atlanta cyclist in an aggravated assault in Morningside Monday evening.
The nine-second video shows the red Dodge Nitro heading down Flagler Avenue in one direction before disappearing out of view. Next, a cyclist speeds down the street in the opposite direction, soon followed by the Dodge Nitro.
Police say the car hit Atlanta cyclist Gregory T. Germani before speeding away. Germani was in critical condition Tuesday. Police are still looking for the car.
Witnesses say that Germani and the driver of the vehicle engaged in a verbal dispute moments before Germani was hit. Germani had been riding his bicycle on Montgomery Ferry Road when he was nearly struck by the vehicle turning from Flagler Avenue. Germani then approached the driver of the SUV and the argument ensued.
After the dispute, Germani sped off down Flagler Avenue, as if fleeing the SUV, while the SUV took off after him, witnesses said. The video seemingly shows this happening.
Police said one bystander witnessed the collision.
“We believe that there were some words between the motorist and the bicyclist and we believe the motorist … came back and struck the bicyclist intentionally,” Lt. Rod Woody said.
Witnesses found Germani under a silver SUV parked along the curb in the 1800 block of Flagler Avenue, while the SUV was seen speeding away, taking a right onto Rock Springs Road toward Piedmont Avenue.
Police are still on the lookout for the red or burgundy Dodge Nitro.
The vehicle may have damage on the front and possibly right side, said Woody in a press conference Wednesday. He added that the driver of the vehicle is potentially an under-30-year-old African-American man.
Police also clarified that the victim of the assault is 50-year-old Germani. Germani is the creator of the local historical site, Atlanta Time Machine. In their original report, police mistakenly identified the victim as Gregory T. German.
Germani was in critical condition Tuesday after suffering serious injuries to the head and neck, police said.
Lt. Woody said police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the vehicle or driver involved in the incident.
“This case is going to take some help from the public, obviously,” he said. “So anybody that saw anything or may know of any vehicle that’s got any kind of damage on it that is a burgundy- or red-in-color Dodge Nitro, we would ask that they call Crime Stoppers and give them that information.”
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
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