A 56-year-old Marshville man has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle after a motorcyclist died following a crash at the Monroe Expressway on-ramp in Union County. The collision occurred about 8:10 p.m. Oct. 9 at Morgan Mill Road and the expressway on-ramp.
The motorcyclist was critically injured and flown to Atrium Health Main, but later died, Queen City News reported. Authorities have not identified the rider, according to Queen City News.
The truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, the outlet reported. Following an investigation by the Monroe Police Department, Bradey Junior Maske, 56, of Marshville, was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor death by vehicle, according to the report.
A Pattern of Deadly Crashes on Union County Roads
This is not the only motorcycle fatality to strike Union County this year. In April, a motorcyclist named Nelson Lee Graves was killed in a two-vehicle crash at Stallings Road and Guion Lane in Stallings, according to WBTV. Police said in that case a Toyota Tacoma entered the intersection against a red light and struck Graves, who was riding a Harley-Davidson, and that the Toyota driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators — though that report noted no impairment was suspected and no charges had been filed at the time.
Fatal Motorcycle Crashes in Union County
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 2023 Union County crash profile lists 3 fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023, compared with 6 in 2022. The profile gives a five-year average of 4.
Safety Reminders for Sharing the Road With Motorcycles
Police urged motorists to stay alert for motorcycles, which can be harder to spot in traffic, and to take extra care before turning or changing lanes and when approaching intersections.
The reminders also emphasized leaving riders space on the road: drivers should not share a lane with a motorcycle, should allow more distance behind one and should signal before maneuvers. Police also advised motorists to avoid phone distractions.
