A terrible accident near Valle Crucis, North Carolina has left one motorcyclist dead and another seriously injured.  The accident happened on N.C. Highway 194 on Tuesday at around 11:00 am.  According to available information, a flatbed truck carrying lumber was traveling south on NC 194 while the motorcycle was traveling north.  Apparently, lumber had shifted in the flatbed and came out from beneath straps placed on either end of the load.  The lumber was hanging off the side of the truck and struck the motorcyclist as they road in the opposite direction.

There was a man and a woman on the motorcycle and the man was killed. The woman was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in critical condition.  There is some indication that the man and woman were from Florida.  The lumber truck is apparently owned by New River Building Supply Company.  The driver of the lumber truck has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Read more about this accident.

This was a very preventable accident had the lumber truck operator taken the time to properly secure the load.  There may be additional responsible parties who were involved with placing this load but this information is not known at this time.