Republican state lawmaker arrested by DUI task force after crashing into bicyclist

ATLANTA — Georgia State Rep. Devan Seabaugh was arrested for drunk driving Thursday after police say he veered into a bike lane and crashed into a cyclist.

The collision occurred around 9 p.m. last night at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Park Avenue in the Grant Park neighborhood.

Witnesses at the scene mentioned the cyclist appeared to be OK.

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“We went outside to make sure everyone was okay,” said Leslie Cohen, who was working at her restaurant when she heard the commotion.

Cohen described seeing a black SUV in the bike lane, which had run over a cyclist. A witness took pictures of the damaged bike and Seabaugh at the scene.

The Georgia State Patrol officers arrested Seabaugh and took him to the Atlanta City Jail where he was booked on charges of DUI and failure to obey a traffic device.

Cohen said the cyclist appeared to have only minor injuries.

“He was sitting upright, so he looked okay. I think they were checking him out and then he stood up. And he walked around,” she said.

Cycling enthusiasts at a nearby bike shop expressed concerns over the increasing risks to cyclists from motorists.

Emory Hancock, who has been hit twice while riding, shared his experience.

“The second time I got struck, I woke up on an MRI machine. I have no memory of what happened,” Hancock said.

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Matt Hagen, an attorney specializing in protecting cyclists’ rights, said in Georgia, thousands of cyclists are hit by vehicles each year, mainly in congested urban areas.

“The only solution really is some permanent infrastructure that separates cars and bikes on the road, not just a devoted bike lane,” Hagen said.

Seabaugh was released from jail early this morning on $4,000 bond.

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Seabaugh posted a statement to his official Facebook page on Friday morning saying he was glad no one was hurt.

“Today I’m thankful that no one was hurt in last night’s traffic incident. I appreciate the professionalism of the law enforcement officers on the scene, and we will let the legal process continue to play out. I look forward to the facts coming out and providing clarity to all concerned,” Seabaugh wrote.

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