By Shavonne Potts

shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

GOLD HILL — A Fayetteville man was issued a citation for damaging property at Gold Hill Mines Historic Park after he collided into a tree while mud-slinging there, said Rowan County Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office cited Tracy Lamar Carpenter, 24, of the 6700 block of Baldoon Drive, Fayetteville, with injury to real property. The agency received a call from Vivian Hopkins, vice president of the Gold Hill Mines Historic Foundation, who said there was considerable damage discovered around 5:45 p.m. on Monday to the back of the park. The park is located at 735 St. Stephens Church Road.

The property is owned by the Gold Hill Mines Historic Foundation. A neighbor called Hopkins to tell her they heard someone in a vehicle at the back of the property. Hopkins told deputies this is not the first time they’ve had issues with people using vehicles to tear up the property, Sifford said. There are two similar pending matters in court, Hopkins told deputies.

When she arrived, Hopkins found gravel strewn about the area and a truck that had struck a tree. The driver, who would later be identified as Tracy Carpenter, had already called a tow truck. The State Highway Patrol was also on hand to complete an accident report.

Carpenter complained of injuries and that his Nissan Frontier pickup was totaled. He admitted to driving around the property, but said he didn’t know he couldn’t be there. The damage to the landscaping was estimated at $750.