Natchez Trace Car vs. Bike: Driver Claims ‘I did Not See the Gentleman I Hit’

The man accused of hitting a bicyclist and leaving the scene on the Natchez Trace Parkway is telling his version of what happened.

Marshall Neely spoke with News 2 via phone Monday afternoon, claiming, “I did not see the gentleman that I hit. He just kind of came from nowhere. I didn’t know I hit him.”

Bicyclist Tyler Noe was thrown to the ground and injured in the hit-and-run.

Neely, who was arrested after the incident on Saturday, says his car has been impounded by police.

He later agreed to an in-person interview, though only audio recording was allowed, saying in the days that followed the hit-and-run, he he has received several death threats.

According to an arrest report, Neely told authorities he believed a man threw a bike at his car.  However, he told News 2 he’s uncertain if that happened.

“[Authorities] came at like 1 o’clock in the morning. I was sound asleep. They asked me what happened. I said I didn’t know,” explained Neely.

“There was another guy there with his wife, and he was standing there holding his bike, and I said all I know if maybe he threw his bike at my car, I didn’t know that for a fact.”

Neely served as the Dean of Students at the University School of Nashville. Recently, he shifted to a part time role. On Sunday, USN reported that Neely was placed on a leave of absence.His friend, Greg Goodman, was riding behind him and recorded what happened on his Go Pro camera.

Courtesy of WKRN News 2