By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Saturday was a bad day for motorcyclists in Rowan County.
The N.C. Highway Patrol investigated three wrecks scattered around the county.
The worst accident occurred Saturday night on Miller Road.
John Lawson Jr., 33, of Salisbury, was seriously injured when he lost control of his 2004 Honda and went off the right side of the road.
Lawson is in Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where a spokesman said he was in fair condition Sunday night.
The bike did a barrel roll, throwing Lawson off. Trooper D.H. Deal of the N.C. Highway Patrol said the bike skidded nearly 500 feet before going off the left side of Miller Road.
Lawson was thrown off and tumbled down the right side of the road.
Lawson was wearing a Department of Transportation approved helmet and leather safety wear. “Had he not had the helmet and the leather gear, his injuries would have been far more severe,” Deal said.
Witnesses who saw the accident told Deal that Lawson was exceeding the 55 mph speed limit.
Charges are pending.
Locke firefighters responded to the scene and planned to set up a landing zone for a medical helicopter.
The helicopter had to responded from Rock Hill, S.C. Due to the delay, Rowan EMS opted to transport Lawson to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, where the helicopter picked him up.
The two other accidents involving motorcycles occurred on East Ridge Road and near the Landis town limits off N.C. 153.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.