Man airlifted when motorcycle wrecks

Neighbors and emergency crews watch as paramedics prepare to transport the driver of a Harley Davidson that crashed on Unity Church Road Thursday afternoon. Photo by Nathan Hardin.

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After helping with a helicopter landing, Atwell firefighters watch Thursday afternoon as medical crews prepare to airlift the driver of a motorcycle that crashed on Unity Church Road. Photo by Nathan Hardin.

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North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers investigate a motorcycle wreck Thursday afternoon after the driver was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center at Charlotte. Photo by Nathan Hardin.

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By Nathan Hardin

nhardin@salisburypost.com

MOORESVILLE — A Mooresville man was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital today after losing control of his Harley Davidson in a curve on Unity Church Road, authorities said.

N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper S.B. Marshall said the driver, 38-year-old Christian Gardner, was taken by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center.

He was believed to have suffered injuries to his left knee and possibly punctured a lung, authorities said.

Marshall said the call came in at 1:24 p.m.

The driver was not speeding, according to Marshall, and Gardner is not expected to be charged.

Gardner’s Harley Davidson came to a rest near Todd Isaacs’ fence in the 10000 block of Unity Church Road.

Isaacs was one of several neighbors who watched along with emergency crews as paramedics moved Gardner from an ambulance to the helicopter Thursday afternoon.

The helicopter landed in a field across from the crash site.

Isaacs and fellow neighbor Karen McKnight said there have been several wrecks in that curve.

“This happens a lot,” McKnight said.

Neighbors have tried to get the speed limit changed, they said, but it remains at 55 mph.

Marshall, the Highway Patrol trooper, said Gardner was not speeding, but he said the sun may have blinded him as he rounded the curve.

Neighbors said the curve still accumulates a lot of crashes and measures should be taken to reduce accidents.

“We’re pretty rural,”?Isaacs said. “If they just lowered it ... I?know I?always drive slower just in case.”

Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.