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Victim: Man Blamed Wife's Affair During Racial Rant After Attack

Posted: 12:57 pm EDT July 15, 2008

A white driver was charged with two hate crimes after, police said, he purposely jumped the curb along the 700 block of South Atlantic Avenue (A1A) in Daytona Beach (see map) and hit a 25-year-old black woman riding her bicycle Monday night.


SLIDESHOW: Images From Scene Show Damaged Car, Driver
VIDEO REPORT: Driver Accused Of Yelling Racial Slurs After Hitting Woman

"I see this car coming straight toward me and he didn't hit his brakes or anything," 25-year-old victim Nekedia Cato told Eyewitness News as she recovered from her injuries Tuesday.

"He sideswiped a tree right over here and then that's when he lost it and, when he lost it, he went into a roll, took out the porch on a house here and then rolled about four times and landed about a half-block up," said eyewitness Mike Brotherton.

suspect thomas crosby hate crime arrest

Thomas Crosby

According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, after crashing the vehicle, 56-year-old Thomas Darryl Cosby shouted racial slurs accusing the victim of sleeping with his wife and girlfriend. Cosby was restrained by witnesses until law enforcement arrived.

Investigators believe Cosby wanted revenge because his wife had an affair with a black man.

"He was screaming out 'Help me, I have to kill these black people. Help me kill these black people,' because one black man slept with his wife," Cato said. "Just tell him, I forgive him. I don't hate you for what you did. Maybe you were going through something in your mind, something that triggered you."

Cosby, who sustained minor lacerations to his arm and refused medical treatment, was being held in the Volusia County jail on $60,000 bond and is being mentally evaluated. He was charged with aggravated battery and simple battery and both were also designated hate crimes. The hate crime designation means the potential for a longer jail sentence.

"Please stop hating people. It's not right. It's not right at all," Cato said.

Cato sustaining an open fracture to her lower, right leg and additional internal injuries, but she's expected to fully recover. Because she blacked out after being hit, Cato didn't find out the suspect was facing hate crime charges until she saw a police report Tuesday morning.
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