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GREENSBORO — Police have charged an Eden woman in connection with the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist in Guilford County on Oct. 24.

Grayson Warren Dawson, 48, of 702 Moir Mill Road in Eden, was charged Monday with felony hit and run, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving while license revoked.

T.J. Carter, a Highway Patrol trooper, said Dawson, accompanied by her attorney, Locke Clifford, turned herself in and was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2.

Clifford said his client, whose birthday was the day of the accident, had no comment about the case.

Carter said Dawson was driving northbound on North Church Street just north of N.C. 150 on Oct. 24 when she steered left of center and hit David Sherman head-on.

Sherman, who lived at 6103 Gwynedd Road in Summerfield, died instantly.

After the impact, two witnesses saw a silver Dodge Durango make a U-turn and leave the scene.

The Highway Patrol received several phone calls about an SUV matching the description. Officers seized a 1998 Dodge Durango from Dawson’s driveway on Oct. 26.

The SUV had heavy damage to the driver’s side of the windshield and hood, including blood on the windshield, Carter said.

Court records show that Dawson has charges pending from June 2007 of failure to appear in court on charges of driving with no operator’s license, having no insurance, speeding and driving the wrong way on a two-lane road.

She pleaded guilty in July 2003 to driving without an operator’s license; she paid fines and court costs. Dawson also was charged with driving left of center but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of improper equipment.

Sherman was an avid musician, runner and bicyclist. He worked as a vice president with Sealy Inc. in Trinity for more than 10 years.

A relative of Sherman said Monday that the family did not want to comment. 

Robert Lippitt, Sherman’s longtime friend and former co-worker, said he’s dumbfounded by Dawson’s low bond considering her previous driving record.

“I guess it’s good news that (the process) is finally moving forward,” he said. “But it doesn’t change anything. It also doesn’t bring Dave back.”

Lippitt and others are organizing a memorial bike ride in honor of their friend. The ride starts at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at High Point Regional Hospital, one of Sherman’s normal starting points.

Riders can take a 25- or 50-mile route, beginning and ending at the hospital. Participants are encouraged to give donations to the Yield to Life bicycle safety organization.

“I don’t want to make this sad,” Lippitt said. “It truly is to celebrate Dave’s life.”
 

Staff Writer Jonnelle Davis contributed to this report.
 

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com.