Staff report
Uninvited weekend visitors are dropping in at David Murdock’s lodge on Cannon Farm Road.
Over the past three weeks, two cars have gone off the road and crashed through the rail fence at Pity’s Sake Lodge, the conference center owned by the billonaire developer of the N.C. Research Campus.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, a 1987 Dodge going west crossed the center line, struck the fence and continued into the pasture on the edge of Kannapolis Lake. It took out several sections of the fence.
Trooper C.R. Pierce reported the driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle owned by Rhonda Ledbetter Powell of 6549 Enochville Circle.
No charges have been filed thus far in that accident.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,500 with damage to the fence at $2,000.
Workmen repaired the welded wire fence and replaced the broken rails a week or so later, just in time for another off-road excursion.
On Friday, Oct. 17, a 1998 Dodge, driven by Amanda Dawn Howard, 20, of 2803 Vale Ave. went off the road and plowed through the fence ó only a few feet from the area that had been replaced.
Trooper M.E. Heon reported Howard was traveling east before her vehicle went off the road.
Heon charged Howard with a provisional license violation and exceeding safe speed.
Damage to the car was estimated at $9,000 and damage to the fence was estimated at $1,000.