What started as a weekend ride for off-road enthusiasts in Kings Mountain turned tragic on Saturday when an ATV slammed into a pickup at a construction site on Sara Lee Access Road, killing the rider. Police identified the victim as 20-year-old Damieon Keith Brinson of Gastonia, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 911 caller reported the crash near an industrial building still under construction, and arriving officers tried to save Brinson with emergency medical aid before he was declared deceased. The case remains under investigation, police told reporters, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Where it happened
The collision unfolded along Sara Lee Access Road, an area that has rapidly turned into a hotbed of industrial development this year. State and local leaders previously announced a large fulfillment center planned for the corridor, underscoring that the crash scene sits in the middle of an active construction zone, WBTV reported.
Law enforcement and safety context
Clusters of off-road riders and reckless ATV activity have already been on the radar for law enforcement across the Charlotte region, prompting stepped-up crackdowns on dangerous street riding. In March, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department operation targeting dirt bikes and ATVs led to 29 charges and several vehicle seizures, a snapshot of mounting concern over large rider groups spilling onto public roads, per WCCB.
Investigation
Kings Mountain police, working with Cleveland County authorities, say the deadly crash is still under active review and have not released further information about what preceded the impact. Officials have asked anyone who may have seen the collision or has details about the gathering to contact investigators, according to The Charlotte Observer.
