Dallas cyclist hit during police chase, survives being thrown from hood of car

A Dallas cyclist is recovering after being hit by a driver leading Garland police on a chase on Saturday.

Friends said cyclist Jim Martin was riding with a group when he was struck from behind and thrown onto the hood of a car. Martin stayed on the hood for more than a mile before another collision launched him into the air.

Martin's most severe injury was a broken arm, but his friends said the outcome could have been much worse.

Pictures showed the aftermath: the intersection of Gus Thomasson Road and the Interstate 30 frontage road in Mesquite filled with multiple smashed-up cars and concerned cyclists, with emergency responders tending to one cyclist who had just been thrown from the hood of a speeding car.

“In a fraction of a second, it went from normal to just insane,” said Greg Murff.

Murff is part of a group of cyclists who normally ride the frontage roads in the area on the weekend. Saturday morning, he was riding next to Martin.

“You heard a noise, you heard a car horn honk, and then Jim was just gone,” said Murff.

Looking ahead, Murff saw Martin had been hit by a speeding Dodge Charger and was being carried on the car’s hood.

Following close behind: Garland police officers, who were chasing the driver who had been accused of assaulting a female family member.

“Dodge Charger wound up hitting a red car and a black car that were at the Gus Thomasson intersection,” said Murff. “And Jim flew off the front of it apparently.”

“He’s going to be OK, which is the great news, and we’re all grateful for that,” said Murff.

Friends told NBC 5 the incident wouldn’t deter Martin, and he planned to get back on a bike as soon as possible and continue riding. They said the crash showed the most extreme danger bike riders can face on Metroplex streets.

“It was so terrifying to see that happen,” said Murff. “And the car, we know, was just flying. It had to be, it came up so fast and disappeared so quickly.”

Police arrested the driver, identified as 33-year-old Justin Johnson, at the scene.

Police said during the chase, Johnson threw drugs from the vehicle, continued driving after hitting the cyclist, and then tried to run away after crashing into two other vehicles. A driver in one of those vehicles was also hospitalized for minor injuries.

Police said Johnson is being held at the Garland Detention Center and faces multiple charges, including: evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, assault – continuous violence against the family, tampering with evidence. Police also said Johnson had an active parole violation warrant issued by the Austin Parole Board.

It's unclear if Johnson has obtained an attorney to speak on his behalf.