Sweetwater – A Kentucky man suffered a broken arm and other injuries, after losing control of his three-wheeler motorcycle on N.C. Hwy. 143 (Sweetwater Road), about two miles east of U.S. Hwy. 129 (Rodney Orr Bypass) on June 29.
Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Case said Edward Wheeler, a 65-year-old resident of Hardyville, Ky., was taken by helicopter for medical care and his condition was unknown.
Wheeler was riding a three-wheeler motorcycle on Sweetwater Road when the vehicle broke down. Mark Gunther, a 72-year-old Robbinsville resident, stopped to help and was towing Case into town using a tow strap when Wheeler lost control. The three-wheeler detached from the tow strap, struck a glancing blow to a medical delivery van headed in the opposite direction and collided with a guard rail before coming to rest in a roadside ditch.
The delivery van belonged to Global Med home medical equipment company and was driven by Robert Eker, 22, of Franklin. Occupants of that vehicle were uninjured, although the van experienced significant damage along its driver’s side.
Trooper Case said Gunther was cited for improper towing and charges were pending for Wheeler.
“He (Gunther) was attempting to do the right thing but did the wrong thing,” Case said in describing Gunther’s attempt to tow Wheeler into town.