UPDATE:
Family and friends are still raising money to help pay for an injured cyclist that was hit on the Henley Bridge early in July.
Since the accident, friends set up a GoFundMe page and have rasied $2,500 for cyclist James Bacon to help pay for some of his medical bills and a new bike. Someone stole Bacon's $6,000 bike while he was being loaded into an ambulance.
Bacon's brother, Steve, said James i anxious to get back on the road, but it will take a while.
The driver who hit Bacon won't be facing charges. Bacon's family has started a petition to reopen the investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Knoxville cycling community came together to support a fellow biker injured on the Henley Bridge Monday night.
Dozens of cyclists rode through downtown Knoxville and across the Henley Bridge to remember the site where police said James Bacon was hit by a car while riding his bike.
Steve Bacon, who organized the ride for his brother, said the purpose was to bring "justice" and raise awareness for more protections for cyclists on the road and for when they are injured in an incident.
"People view cyclists as a nuisance on the road," Steve said. "But we just want you to remember that... there need to be some protections for injuries that occur."
According to the police report, James was riding his bike in the bike lane heading north on the Henley Bridge when a driver going the same direction hit Bacon.
James is from North Georgia and was in Knoxville visiting family. WRCB, the NBC affiliate in Chattanooga, reports James suffered a partial lung collapse, broken collar bone with broken bones in his neck and spine. He also has fractures in his jaw, cheek and eye socket, with bandages now covering serious road rash down to the bone on both knees, thigh and elbow.
"I was signaling for a right turn, and then I woke up with a, in the trauma unit," James said.
According to the police report, the driver of the vehicle in the incident said his check engine light and battery light came on, and he looked down to find out what was wrong with the vehicle. Police said mechanical problems with the driver's vehicle caused him to lose control of his steering.
The driver in the incident was cited for improper vehicle registration, no driver's license, and no proof of insurance. No other charges are pending.
"It's just been a bad dream ever since then," Cindy Pinion, James' wife, said. "It's been a hardship in more ways than one."
James' bike was also stolen while he was receiving medical treatment. There is currently a GoFundMe account set up to help pay for medical bills and raise money for a new bike.