This sounds similar to the group I've ridden with. There is a leader, but she's not particularly assertive...she is also chummy with the hammerhead woman who was pulling.
So the plot thickens. Immediately after the crash everyone was saying that they didn't see the debris to point it out until after they were passing it. Suddenly now the ride leader (who was behind the puller) is claiming that the puller pointed it out, as did she. There's some major butt-covering and buck-passing going on here. The ride leader even suggested that the newest rider in the group must have been the one who failed to point it out. Right...when in doubt shift blame to the person least able to defend themselves.
So, yeah, I'm done with this ride. It's not an environment I am eager to put myself into.