ROWAN COUNTY — One man suffered injuries that required him to be airlifted to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle in central Rowan County on Friday night.

The crash occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Friday, as a motorcycle was travelling south on Airport Road. The driver of the motorcycle veered off to the left in the 2800 block of Airport Road, turning the motorcycle onto its side as it left the roadway, said a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper on scene. The motorcycle then travelled at least 20 feet before colliding with a tree, bringing it to a stop, said the trooper.

The man suffered serious injuries in the crash, and was transported to the Locke Fire Department station at 5405 Mooresville Road, where MedFlight was routed to transport the man to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for further treatment, said the trooper.

The trooper said that they were not able to release a confirmed cause in the crash, but did state that speed appeared to be a factor.

The man was identified by the NCSHP only as a 34-year-old male. More information will be provided if it becomes available.