UPDATE: The Asheville Police Department confirms that one local resident died in a motorcycle accident on Haywood Road earlier today, June 8. Here is the official release from the APD:
On Friday, 06-08-12, at approx. 12:42 pm, Officers with the Asheville Police Department responded to a vehicle collision near the intersection of Haywood Rd. and Swannanoa Ave. involving a minivan and a motorcycle.
The preliminary investigation and witness statements indicate that a 2002 Honda CBR600 operated by 18-year-old, Mariah Danielle Lance, of Asheville and passenger (17-year-old, Hayley Rian Smith, of Candler) was traveling southeast on Haywood Road in a careless and reckless manner and had overtaken at least one vehicle in a no passing zone. During this time a 2001 Windstar Van operated by Dore Isai Benitez, W/M, 05/03/82 of Black Mountain, was making a left turn from Swannanoa Avenue onto Haywood Road and was struck by the motorcycle, which resulted in both Ms. Lance & Ms. Smith being ejected from the motorcycle.
Ms. Lance, Ms. Smith, and a child inside of Mr. Benitez’s van were transported to Mission Hospital where Ms. Lance was pronounced dead. Ms. Smith and the child are currently at Mission Hospital being treated for their non-life threatening injuries. The “Next-of-kin” for Ms. Lance was notified by a Mission Hospital Chaplain. The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office was notified of the crash and will be consulted with next week.
All lanes of Haywood Road were reopened @ 4:09 pm. TSU Officer Bingaman is assigned as the Lead Investigator.
Unconfirmed reports say that one person died in a vehicular accident this afternoon on Haywood Road in West Asheville at the intersection of Swannanoa Avenue. (photos by Pete Lutz)
UPDATE: Haywood Road is now re-opened, City of Asheville reports.
UPDATE: The Asheville Citzen-Times and WLOS are reporting that one person has died in a two-vehicle accident on Haywood Road in West Asheville.
UPDATE: Bus lines have been re-routed. Haywood Road remains closed. The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that there is one fatality.
(photos by Pete Lutz)
At around 3p.m. it appeared the investigation was winding down, and APD was preparing to re-open Haywood Road.
According to people on the scene, two individuals on a moped or motorcycle were struck by a van were involved in an accident on Haywood Road near the BattleCat coffee house. One victim was taken by ambulance immediately to the hospital; the was worked on by paramedics at the scene for a while.
Haywood Road is currently closed for the investigation.
The conditions of either of the riders has not been released as of this post. Stay tuned for updates.
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