By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

GOLD HILL — A Richfield couple were injured today following an early morning motorcycle crash on U.S. 52, not far from the Gold Hill Post Office.

According to N.C. Highway Patrol Tooper C.J. Doty, R. Marie Vanhoy, 41, and her husband, James Jay Vanhoy, 49, were both riding Harley Davidson motorcycles on U.S. 52 at the intersection at Doby Road.

Christian Alexander Cochrane, 21, of Gold Hill, was traveling on Doby Road in a 2002 Honda Civic. He told the trooper it was foggy, and when he looked to the right he saw two headlights. He thought they were slowing down to turn in at the Citgo, so he made a left turn.

The trooper said the couple were not turning and were traveling straight. The crash occurred at 6:36 a.m., when it was still dark.

Doty said R. Marie was slightly ahead of her husband when she was struck. Her motorcycle hit the front quarter panel of the Honda and knocked her into the path of her husband. Both husband and wife were thrown from their motorcycles.

They both were wearing helmets, but did suffer some injuries. R. Marie had a head injury and internal injuries, Doty said. Her husband had a broken left leg. Both had cuts, abrasions and road rash.

The pair were taken to Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast via Rowan EMS. The Gold Hill Fire Department also responded. The road was shut down for about 35 minutes until officials opened one lane.