Cyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run in Houston County, Authorities Seek Witnesses

On September 19, 2024, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division responded to a fatal incident on Pyles Road in Elko, approximately 1.26 miles west of Flournoy Road. Phillip R. Clifford, a 68-year-old white male from Bluffton, South Carolina, was cycling east when he was struck by an unknown vehicle.

Video footage captured Clifford traveling east on Pyles Road at around 08:07 A.M. Moments later, at approximately 08:08 A.M., a newer model white four-door pickup truck was seen traveling in the same direction. While the make and model remain unidentified, the vehicle resembles a newer Ford 4×4 F-250/F-350 or a newer 4×4 Chevrolet/GMC 2500/3500. The truck is noted to have a black step at the front of the pickup bed behind the rear door.

Clifford succumbed to his injuries following the collision. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about this hit-and-run incident to come forward. Authorities believe the driver of the truck may possess crucial information that could aid in the investigation.

Individuals with any details related to the incident are asked to contact the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division at 478-542-2080.