Durham police have arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run that killed a bicyclist on Ellis Road in May 2024, according to court records. This marks the first significant development in a case that has affected the local community for over a year.
Arrest, charges and court timeline
Court filings name the suspect as Damien Devon Holloway. He was taken into custody on Thursday and appeared in Durham County court for the first time on Friday, Feb. 13, according to CBS17. Records state that Holloway is charged with felony hit-and-run involving death and driving with a revoked license for impairment.
How the crash unfolded
The crash that killed 53-year-old bicyclist Frederick Howell happened shortly before 10 p.m. on May 27, 2024. Investigators say Howell was riding southbound in the 800 block of Ellis Road when a vehicle came up behind him and struck him, according to ABC11. Witnesses told officers the vehicle looked like a dark Polaris RZR or a similar off-road “side-by-side.”
A warrant filed on Jan. 28, 2026, by the Durham Police Department alleges that investigators ultimately identified Holloway as the driver and that the vehicle sped away south on Ellis Road near Riddle Road, CBS17 reported. Court documents list Holloway’s next hearing for March 2, 2026.
Howell’s death was one of several deadly hit-and-runs in Durham that spring. Police records cited in earlier reporting showed three fatal hit-and-run crashes in May alone and four between January and May, according to ABC11. Family members created a memorial at the crash site, and investigators previously urged anyone with information to call Investigator G. Munter at 919-560-4935 ext. 29448 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.
Legal stakes and what’s next
Leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious injury or death is a felony under North Carolina law. Depending on the circumstances and severity, a hit-and-run that results in someone’s death can be prosecuted as a Class F felony, which can bring prison time, fines and the loss of driving privileges, according to an overview by Browning & Long. Holloway is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court…