Brown County, OH (August 12, 2026) — A man died in a hit-and-run late on Tuesday night, August 11, after a car struck the back of the electric bicycle he was riding on State Route 32 near Eastwood Road in Brown County, according to troopers. It happened around 10:36 p.m.
James Daughtery, 46, of Cincinnati, was riding westbound in the right lane when the car, also headed westbound in the same lane, struck him from behind and left without stopping, troopers said.
Investigators believe the vehicle involved was a white Nissan Versa, likely a 2020 to 2025 model. Daughtery was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wreck remained under investigation as this report was filed. Anyone with information is asked to call troopers at 937-378-6193 or 937-378-6191.
Our thoughts are with Daughtery’s family during this difficult time.
Why Riding on a Highway Without a Bike Lane Is Especially Risky
Riding an e-bike on a highway without a dedicated bike lane means sharing space with vehicles moving far faster than the bike itself. Many e-bikes travel between 15 and 28 miles per hour, while highway traffic moves at 45 to 55 miles per hour or more, leaving a wide speed gap that a driver has to account for well before reaching the rider.
That gap becomes even more dangerous after dark. An e-bike is much smaller than a car, and without a working rear light and reflectors, it can be extremely hard for a driver to spot in time, especially if that driver is also dealing with headlight glare or fatigue late at night.
Riders on roads without a separate bike lane are generally encouraged to use a bright rear light, wear reflective clothing, and ride as far to the right as safely possible. Drivers, in turn, are expected to give cyclists a wide berth when passing, treating any bike-sized object ahead in the lane as a rider rather than assuming it’s something else entirely.
