Jacksonville driver accused of intentionally hitting teen bicyclist says it was an accident

An arrest warrant was issued for a Jacksonville man accused of intentionally hitting a teenager on a bicycle months ago.

Jordan Harrison, 24, was arrested Sept. 15 for the June incident.

The victim, 19-year-old Forrest Andrews II, told police the situation escalated after he told Harrison to get off his phone.

“He was rubbing his bumper on my back tire and just, like, hounding me with his car and like playing cat-and-mouse with me,” the teenager said.

The report said Harrison followed the victim from Hogan and Parental roads and through a parking lot. Police said the pursuit continued across Beach Boulevard and ended on East Road.

The warrant said Harrison slammed into the back of the victim’s bike, causing him to be thrown off. The report said Harrison drove off without checking on the victim.

“I thought I was going to be killed. I thought, you know, I’m about to die,” the victim said.

Days after the crash, the victim’s father, Forrest Andrews Sr., saw a car matching the description in the neighborhood.

“He just basically sort of fell in my lap,” he said.

Harrison was originally cited for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, but charges were eventually upgraded to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Harrison admitted to Action News Jax that he hit he victim, but said it was an accident and that he was trying to get around the bicyclist after the confrontation.

“My intentions weren’t to hit him,” Harrison said. “This was not on purpose.”

When asked by police why he did not stop, he said he was concerned the argument would escalate with the victim if he did.

Cox Media Group