A 33-year-old Roanoke man died early Sunday morning after his motorcycle struck a curb in a Northeast Roanoke neighborhood, and police say alcohol appears to have played a role in the crash. Gregory Alan Jackson was found with severe injuries in the road and died at the scene, according to the Roanoke Police Department.
Police responded to the 3300 block of Springtree Drive NE at about 4:28 a.m. Sunday, according to WDBJ7. Officers identified the motorcyclist as Jackson, of Roanoke, and said he died at the scene. An initial investigation found that Jackson had been riding south on Village Court NE, approaching its intersection with Springtree Drive, when he hit the western curb of Village Court NE, resulting in the crash, the station reported.
Alcohol Cited as a Factor in the Crash
Investigators said alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash, according to WFXR. The station described the case as an active investigation, meaning additional details could still emerge as officers continue to piece together what happened in the final moments before Jackson's motorcycle left the roadway. According to WSLS, Roanoke police received the crash report and responded to the scene early Sunday, confirming the same sequence of events reported by other outlets.
A Second Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Roanoke This Year
A Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Roanoke Sunday's crash was a fatal motorcycle wreck in Roanoke. In March, Virginia State Police said a motorcyclist died in a two-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 581 near the Valley View Mall entrance ramp, per the same wfxrtv.com account. That driver, identified as 38-year-old Anthony Lee Spencer of Roanoke, died at the scene after hitting the back of a 2011 Ford Explorer while changing lanes, and the Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted with that investigation, which remained open at last report. The available information does not point to a broader pattern connecting the two crashes beyond the fact that both happened in Roanoke and both proved fatal.
No further details about Sunday's investigation, including whether charges have been filed, have been released. Police have not said whether Jackson was wearing a helmet or provided additional information about the motorcycle or roadway conditions at the time of the crash.
