DALLAS, TX – A man is in custody after allegedly driving under the influence and striking two cyclists near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Monday evening, according to airport police. The incident, which was captured on video by a witness, occurred just before 7 p.m. and has left the local biking community in shock.
Authorities responded to a call about a hit-and-run involving two cyclists. The video footage shows the driver, identified as 31-year-old Benjamin Peter Hylander, speeding in the right-hand lane before colliding with the unsuspecting cyclists. After the initial impact, Hylander briefly stopped, then ran over one of the cyclists before fleeing the scene in a white SUV.
One of the cyclists, 69-year-old Tom Geppert, recounted the terrifying moment. “All of a sudden, something pushes me from behind,” Geppert said. “Then I could feel myself falling, and that’s pretty much the last thing I remember.” Geppert, a retired physician, was on a group ride when he was struck. He believes his bike may have saved his life by elevating the car slightly as it ran over his thigh.
Witnesses followed Hylander to a nearby gas station, where they noted his license plate and urged him to return to the scene. Upon his return, Hylander reportedly ran up to the injured cyclist, repeatedly apologizing. Police officers on the scene detected an odor of alcohol on Hylander’s breath and noted his glassy, bloodshot eyes.
Initially, Hylander claimed he had only consumed one beer an hour before the incident but later admitted to drinking “maybe two or three large beers.” A search of his vehicle revealed six empty beer cans in a backpack behind the passenger seat, and two more empty cans were found in a grassy area near the gas station. These items were entered into evidence, although it remains unclear if the cans in the grass were connected to Hylander.
After failing a sobriety test, Hylander, an American Airlines cargo employee, was arrested and charged with DWI and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both cyclists have since been released from the hospital, according to local reports.