By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Speaking from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Sunday afternoon, James Lee “Jimi Bones” Barnes said he and his girlfriend, Janet Holland, were headed for the Webb Road Flea Market when the July 26 accident happened.

He still doesn’t remember his motorcycle’s hitting the black Subaru Impreza.

“It happened so fast,” Barnes said.

The next thing he knew, he and Holland were seriously hurt and lying on the Peeler Road pavement. Both would soon be transported to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center before being transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Barnes said he and Holland, a Mocksville resident, were still in the hospital’s trauma center Sunday. Without Holland’s permission, Barnes said, he didn’t feel comfortable reporting on her injuries.

Barnes, an East Spencer resident, broke both arms and a foot, has fractures in his spine and gumline and, after surgery, has metal plates in both arms.

About 2:34 p.m. July 26, Barnes and Holland had just left the Love’s Travel Stop at the Peeler Road exit of Interstate 85. On his way to the flea market, Barnes first planned to take Peeler Road to U.S. 29 to see how the new construction in that area was going.

The Subaru, driven by Kavir Kumar of Mooresville, was attempting to take a left turn onto a northbound entry ramp of I-85 when it pulled into the motorcycle’s path, according to reports.

Barnes’ 2006 Harley-Davidson hit the passenger door of the Subaru.

Trooper C.K. Ridenhour charged Kumar with an unsafe movement violation.

Barnes said Sunday he doesn’t have use of his left arm yet and was just getting feeling back in his right hand. But he wanted those who have been concerned about him and Holland to know there has been improvement.