Private School Dean Charged In Natchez Trace Hit-And-Run Tells Police Someone 'Threw A Bike' At Him, Says He's 'A Good Man'

FRANKLIN, TN — University School of Nashville's dean of students charged with several crimes following a harrowing hit-and-run on Natchez Trace Parkway Saturday, said he's a "good man" and though he told police someone "threw a bike" at him, he admitted he didn't really remember what was happening at the time.

Marshall Grant Neely III, 58, of Franklin, was arrested Saturday and charged with felony reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to immediately notify of accident and failure to render aid after allegedly hitting Tyler Noe of Nolensville with his Volvo and then speeding away.

Noe was cycling with his friend and fellow Nolensvillian Greg Goodman Saturday morning when the accident happened. Goodman was riding with a camera and captured the hit-and-run on video, which he then posted to Facebook and provided to National Parks Service rangers.

Noe was taken to the hospital but is now recovering at home.

The National Parks Service said rangers are meeting with the United States Attorney to determine if additional federal charges will be filed. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter. Or like Patch on Facebook.)

The video is disturbing.

According to Goodman's post, a witness said they saw the same car try to hit another cyclist last week. In the Tennessee and Mississippi portions of the 444-mile road, cyclists are permitted to ride in the vehicle lanes.

Goodman told The Tennessean he believes Neely intentionally hit his friend.

"It was Tyler's first day to ride a bike since he was a kid," Goodman told the paper. "He decided to hit Tyler. And Tyler just got sent home. He’s going to be OK, and he’s banged up pretty bad."

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 Monday, 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 said he has received death threats and that the incident is "the biggest nightmare I have ever had in my life."

Though USN's website had listed Neely as the high school dean of students, all references to him had been scrubbed by midday Sunday and the school announced he'd been put on a leave of absence.

"Marshall Neely served as dean of students at University School of Nashville before transitioning to a part-time role this summer. He also is parent of two alumni. As of today, USN has placed Mr. Neely on leave of absence while we investigate the circumstances. All other matters related to his employment are confidential. We appreciate the work of law enforcement on this matter and will cooperate fully with their investigation. Our thoughts are with the cyclist and his family as well as the Neely family during this difficult time. University School of Nashville is aware of this unfortunate incident. We respect and support the ongoing investigation with confidentiality," the school said in a statement.

Founded in 1915 and originally associated with Peabody Normal School prior to Peabody's merger with nearby Vanderbilt University, USN is one of Nashville's most prestigious private schools, enrolling more than 1,000 students K-12. The school regularly ranks at or near the top of the state's leaderboard for producing National Merit Scholars. It was the second school in the city to desegregate its classes, following Father Ryan High School, and the first to desegregate its athletic teams.

Neely posted an $11,500 bond Sunday morning.

Image via Williamson County Sheriff's Department