Natchez Trace Hit & Run: Trial Date Set For Ex-Prep School Dean Accused Of Hitting Cyclist

NASHVILLE, TN — Marshall Neely, the former dean of students at a prestigious Nashville prep school accused in a July hit-and-run wreck that injured a cyclist on the Natchez Trace, will go to trial October 3.

Neely is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, making false statements to a federal agent and destruction of evidence. He's accused of hitting cyclist Tyler Noe with his Volvo while on the Natchez Trace Parkway July 8 in a wreck caught on video by Noe's friend Greg Goodman, who posted the GoPro-captured clip on Facebook and shared it with National Park Service rangers.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

The video is disturbing.

In addition to the federal charges — Natchez Trace Parkway being administered by the NPS opens up federal jurisdiction — Neely, 58, of Franklin, faces state charges of felony reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to immediately notify of accident and failure to render aid.

According to his arrest affidavit, Neely told police "that a man and woman were standing in the road and threw a bicycle at his car." The video shot by Goodman — a man — shows only Noe — also a man — and has no indication of bicycle throwing.

In an interview with The Tennessean July 10, Neely said it was obvious that initial recollection wasn't entirely correct.

"When the police came and asked me what happened, I said, 'I don’t know.' There was a guy there maybe and I remember he was standing there and I said maybe he threw his bike at me," Neely told the paper. "Obviously, the video shows otherwise. I did not see the man. There were things going on all over the place. If you want, go look on my car, it’s been impounded. There’s not a scratch on my car."

The video — which Neely said looks "not so great" — shows a white pick-up truck safely pass Noe and Goodman and no oncoming traffic prior to Neely hitting Noe in what Neely told The Tennessean was a "quote-unquote soft hit."

Neely was released from federal custody on Aug. 1 and is barred from drinking alcohol, leaving Middle Tennessee without approval, and from possessing a firearm.

Image via Williamson County Sheriff's Department