POWHATAN, Va. -- A Chesterfield man is being held without bond on felony charges of hit-and-run and driving without a license.
Carlos R. Hernandez, 34, who has a history of traffic violations, is accused of hitting Kevin Merryman, 28, who was riding his bike Saturday morning.
Carlos R. Hernandez
Merryman's family, who lives in Powhatan, is struggling to make sense of this loss.
"We're such a close family it's supposed to be all five of us and now it's not," said Amanda Dolen, Merryman's sister.
Merryman was riding home from a friend's house in Midlothian when he called his mother to pick him up because he was freezing. She brewed him a cup of coffee and left.
"He said , 'I'm going to get off here. I got to go.' He said, 'I love you, Mom,'" Wanda Merryman said.
Those were Merryman's last words.
Police said minutes after Merryman got off the phone with his mother that he was struck by Hernandez in the 10800 block of Midlothian Turnpike. Police said Hernandez, who was driving without a license, just kept going.
Merryman's family said he was run over by Hernandez's red Ford SUV.
"I rolled up on the accident scene. First thing I saw was his bike and I jumped out of the car screaming his name. I knew it was him," Merryman's mother said.
About an hour later, the father of two died. Merryman had just returned three weeks ago to his hometown of Powhatan after going through a divorce in Georgia.
Merryman has a two-year-old son, Gage, who he called his little buddy. Merryman never got to meet his newborn son, Colton.
Family members said Merryman used his bike as his primary transportation because his driver's license was suspended.
"He was obeying the law when he lost his life by somebody who wasn't obeying the law," Merryman mother said.
"Heartless, just to leave [and] not do anything like he's a dog. He didn't deserve this... No he didn't," said Kevin's Mother Wanda and his Father Thomas Merryman.
The Merrymans said they are thankful that Hernandez lost his license plate on Midlothian Turnpike after police said he hit Merryman.
That is what led authorities to Hernandez's North Chesterfield home.
Hernandez, who has been charged with felony hit and run and driving without a license, is is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 23
