James Daugherty Accident, Brown County Death: 46-Year-Old Cincinnati Man Dies Following Bicycle Crash on State Route 32
The Brown County community is mourning the death of James D. Daugherty, 46, of Cincinnati, who was killed Tuesday night after being struck while riding an electric bicycle along State Route 32 in Sterling Township, Ohio.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the fatal crash happened at approximately 10:36 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, 2026, near Eastwood Road. Daugherty was traveling westbound in the right lane of State Route 32 when a vehicle traveling in the same direction struck him from behind. The driver then fled the scene.
Emergency crews responded to the scene, where Daugherty was pronounced dead. The Brown County Coroner’s Office also responded as investigators began working to establish exactly how the collision occurred and identify the vehicle involved.
Authorities said Daugherty was riding a Jansno electric bicycle at the time of the crash. The circumstances have led investigators to classify the incident as a hit-and-run, with troopers now asking the public for information that could help locate the driver.
Investigators believe the vehicle that struck Daugherty may have been a white 2020–2025 Nissan Versa. Anyone who may have seen a vehicle matching that description in the area around the time of the crash is being urged to contact law enforcement.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Georgetown Post is leading the investigation. Authorities have asked witnesses or anyone with information about the collision to contact the post at 937-378-6193 or 937-378-6191.
The investigation remains active as troopers work to reconstruct the moments leading up to the fatal collision. Evidence from the roadway, the bicycle and any available surveillance or witness accounts could help investigators determine how the crash happened and identify the vehicle that left the scene.
For Daugherty’s family and friends, the circumstances surrounding his death make an already painful loss even more difficult. His death came suddenly late Tuesday night, leaving loved ones to grieve while authorities continue searching for answers.
Hit-and-run crashes can create significant challenges for investigators, particularly when the vehicle involved leaves before police arrive. Investigators may depend on vehicle fragments, damage patterns, surveillance cameras, eyewitness accounts and other evidence to identify the driver.
Authorities are urging members of the public not to speculate about the identity of the driver or share unverified accusations online. Anyone with potentially useful information should instead provide it directly to investigators.
The fatal collision also highlights the vulnerability of cyclists traveling on busy roads after dark. Drivers are reminded to remain alert for bicycles and other vulnerable road users, maintain a safe distance and provide adequate space when passing.
As the investigation continues, additional details may emerge concerning the vehicle involved, the circumstances of the impact and whether authorities are able to identify the driver.
For now, the focus remains on finding the person responsible and providing answers to Daugherty’s family.
James D. Daugherty, 46, of Cincinnati, has died following a fatal hit-and-run crash while riding an electric bicycle on State Route 32 in Brown County. Ohio State Highway Patrol investigators are searching for the driver and asking anyone with information about the August 11 collision to come forward.
