The Gastonia Police Department found the SUV that is believed to have struck and killed a bicyclist on Garrison Boulevard on Oct. 19.

Cody Cochran, 28, died after being hit by a dark-colored SUV at about 12:30 a.m. On Friday, Oct. 24, police found the suspected vehicle, a 2021 Mazda CX 9, hidden at a residence within a half mile from the crash site, according to a police press release. Cochran's girlfriend, Natalie Lang, told the Gaston Gazette Oct. 21 that she and Cochran rode their bicycles around town as exercise, and they were going to get food when the wreck occurred. Cochran had turned to her and was telling her that he loved her when he was hit, Lang said. Lang also was grazed by the vehicle, but she wasn't seriously injured.

Cochran's step-father, Kenneth Grambrell, said Oct. 28

See Full Page