The Knoxville cyclist who said he was sideswiped then beaten in late June is back on his bike.
"This whole cheek bone was crushed in and you could feel the pieces moving around," David Thomas said while showing his injuries to 10News during an interview Wednesday afternoon. "Then, right up here [eye socket], this whole area was crushed and pushed in."
Thomas had plates placed in his face, he suffers from nerve damage and loss of eyesight.
The bike enthusiast believes the physical scars will heal, however, "The emotional scars are going to be deeper.".
No one has been arrested for assaulting the cyclist. The Knoxville Police Department said an investigator has been assigned to the case.
According to Thomas, a car sideswiped his bike on the afternoon of June 25 while riding down Magnolia Avenue. Thomas then stopped on Fifth Avenue to catch his breath. The driver hunted the cyclist down and punched him three times.
Thomas wants fellow bike lovers to keep safety in mind.
"I did a lot of things wrong that day," Thomas said. "I should have called 911 right off. I should have gone to a place where there were a lot of people."
The cyclist still wonders what set the driver off. He added, he did not say a word to his attacker while being sideswiped or beaten.
Thomas said he is "at ease" with the suspect, but that the Knoxville cycling community wants justice.
A cash reward for information that leads to an arrest may be offered in the near future.