2 Jailed After Hit-and-Run Accident with Motorcyclist

A motorcycle was struck by a red Ford Mustang at the intersection of Austin and Coggin around 10:30 Friday night. According to witnesses on scene, the motorcycle was traveling southwest on Austin when the Mustang, traveling northeast in the turn lane, failed to yield the right of way causing the motorcycle to collide with the Mustang's passenger side.

Several witnesses reported that the Mustang's driver, later identified as 30-year-old Bradley Dell Cole, stopped and checked on the motorcyclist and then left the scene without leaving any information.

Reports state that the Mustang was following a white SUV which turned southwest onto Durham Avenue. One witness stated that he thought the suspect driver was possibly intoxicated, according to the report.

According to the report, the motorcyclist complained of wrist and back pain and was transported to Brownwood Regional Medical Center emergency room for treatment. He was released later that night according to the report. The damage to his motorcycle consisted of a bent front fender and a broken windshield, the report states.

A Mustang matching the suspect vehicle description which had damage consistent with witness reports was located by police on Saturday night at 9:50 at a residence in the 1800 block of Durham Avenue.

Police questioned the residents of the home and found the owner of the vehicle, 26-year-old Nicole M. Simmons of Atoka, Oklahoma, and Bradley Cole who stated that the damage to the vehicle had been caused when someone backed into it while they were at a party.

According to the report, the officer explained to the couple that their Mustang matched the description of a vehicle that was involved in a hit and run accident the night before and asked if they knew anything about the accident.

Cole initially denied any knowledge of the accident, stating that their vehicle had been driven by several people throughout the night, the report states. Cole continued to deny being involved in the accident; however later when asked by an assisting officer, stated that he and Simmons were involved, but that she had been driving the Mustang. According to the report, Simmons initially denied being the driver and later changed her story and stated that she had been driving the vehicle. Cole stated that they had checked on the driver of the motorcycle and after checking to see if he was okay, left the scene because they were "scared," the police report says.

Officers told Cole that multiple witnesses saw him get out of the driver's seat, but he continued to deny being the driver, pleading with Nicole to tell them she was the driver. According to the report, Cole then admitted that he was very intoxicated the night before and that Nicole had not been. 

Cole explained that he was on parole, did not have a driver's license, and that they recently moved to Texas to live with his cousin who lived at the residence on Durham. Cole admitted to "actively participating in the felony offense of failing to stop and render aid with injury and continued to conceal the offense by providing false information," the report states.

Cole was charged with accident involving injury (for failure to render aid) and is currently being held in the Brown County Jail on $10,000 bond.