Driver Who Ran Down Decatur Cyclist Sentenced to Prison

By Justin Ove

The man who was accused of running down a cyclist after a road rage argument in Atlanta last year has pleaded guilty to the charges laid against him and has been sentenced to prison.

Joseph Alan Lewis, 20 was in court at 9 a.m. Tuesday to enter his guilty plea, and was subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison, WSB-TV says.

Lewis got into an argument with cyclist Gregory Germani, 51 at the intersection of Montgomery Ferry Road and Flager Avenue on June 9, 2014, according to the DA’s Office. Germani pedaled away following the argument, but Lewis followed the bicycle and rammed it with his SUV, dragging Germani some 50 feet down the pavement.

Lewis fled the scene and did not turn himself into police for a month, while Germani is still recovering from a traumatic brain injury he received as a result of the collision, the DA’s Office said.

Lewis had been charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, serious injury by vehicle, hit and run, criminal damage to property in the 1st degree, tampering with evidence, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, driving without a valid license and expired or no license plate/decal.