Police looking for driver who hit motorcyclist in Wise County

ROM, Texas – Police in the city of Rome, Wise County, are seeking the public’s help to find a driver who hit a motorcyclist after he forced him off the road.

“He always had an ear and a shoulder for anyone,” Laranna Brown said.

Jerry Wayne Newton’s friends say he enjoyed worshiping at Aurora Baptist Church in Wise County.

“He’ll be the first to walk through the door,” said Jonathan Crisown.

Newton’s signature is visible on the letterhead of the upcoming retreat. His motorcycle, part of who he was, was almost always parked in front of the entrance.

“He was just real and authentic,” said Scott Bagg.

While riding a motorcycle on Friday morning, a 55-year-old man was killed after a driver who did not stop pushed him off US 287, according to the Roma Police Department.

“He actually pushed him over his shoulder into a grassy lane where he lost control and crashed,” Roma police chief Eric Debus said.

Chief Debus said the description of the suspect’s car is a dark or silver pickup truck with a white trailer.

The trailer was orange underneath, with a black tarp covering the water tank.

“I got into some kind of traffic accident with Mr. Newton, who was in his 2014 Harley Davidson,” Debus said.

Debus said that Newton was wearing a helmet and was not the aggressor.

Witnesses told police that the other driver was actually chasing Newton.

“Mr. Newton and the motorcycle tried to get away from the truck, but the truck kept chasing and chasing him, and then actually swerved towards him several times,” Debus explained.

Police are also looking for a second vehicle, a black truck that was also carrying heavy equipment that may have been traveling with the suspect vehicle.

“I think drivers sometimes look at the motorcycle, they only see the motorcycle and not the person,” said Sabra Crisaun.

Newton’s friends wonder if the suspect lives nearby.

“We might know this very person who caused this,” Sabra added.

Newton was said to be survived by his wife, three sons and grandchildren.

“The nicest guy you’ll ever want to meet,” Jonathan Chrisown said. “Jerry was always the first to turn around looking for a handshake.”

On Saturday, the motorcycle of one of Newton’s friends was parked outside the church, not the one that crashed.

“And it’s just sad because he loved that car,” Jonathan added.

When his friends shared stories of how he made them feel.

“But we never felt like colleagues, we felt like family and Jerry was like a brother to us,” Brown said.

They believe they know how Newton will react to the driver responsible for his death.

“Jerry would have been the first to tell this person who did this I love you and forgive you and he would have helped him learn to make better choices,” Brown added.