A ride last night in Hickory turned deadly when a Kawasaki motorcycle slammed into a Mini Cooper pulling out of the Hampton Inn on 13th Avenue Drive SE, killing the rider, 32-year-old Levi Scovern.
Hickory Police say the crash happened around 8 p.m. Scovern was rushed from the scene to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The investigation is still active.
Police Detail Late-Night Collision
According to WCCB Charlotte, Scovern’s Kawasaki was headed west on 13th Avenue Drive SE when it hit the back of a Mini Cooper that was turning left from the Hampton Inn parking lot onto the street.
Investigators believe speed on the motorcycle was a factor, WCCB Charlotte reports. No charges have been filed at this time, and police have not said whether any will follow once the case is closed.
Deadly Month For Riders In Catawba County
This is not the only fatal crash to hit the area in recent weeks. The wreck comes on the heels of a June 15 collision on Highway 70 Southeast that killed a 19-year-old motorcyclist, detailed in Hwy 70 motorcycle crash coverage.
Local authorities say that in serious motorcycle wrecks like these, investigators typically dig into the same core questions: how fast the bikes were going, whether riders were properly protected, and whether impairment played any role.
State Tries To Rein In Speed And Crashes
North Carolina’s Highway Safety Plan puts motorcycle safety and speed enforcement near the top of its to-do list, backing public campaigns such as “Speed a Little, Lose a Lot” to cut down on speeding-related deaths, according to the plan.
North Carolina GHSP steers funding toward traffic enforcement and motorcycle-safety projects that local departments can tap after serious or fatal wrecks.
Hickory Police say the case remains under investigation and that no additional details are being released yet, according to WCCB Charlotte.
