More than a dozen motorcycle wrecks keep crews busy, two fatalities reported
Two men died and more than a dozen motorcycle crashes were reported Friday along the Grand Strand during the first full day of the annual Atlantic Beach Bikefest, authorities said.
Ed Daniel Leatherwood, 38, of Rex, Ga. died after he ran a red light about 3 p.m. Friday, slamming his 2008 Honda motorcycle into a boat towed by a pick-up truck, said Lt. Raul Denis with Horry County Police. The driver of the truck was making a left turn into a drive near Barefoot Landing.
Leatherwood, who was not wearing a helmet, died from injuries sustained in the crash, said Horry County Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden.
Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, said no charges will be filed in the incident.
The crash briefly shut down southbound traffic on U.S. 17, Denis said.
Another person died in a crash about 9 p.m. Friday on U.S. 17 near Myrtle Beach Mall, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard.
The man who died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 17 near S.C. 22 Friday evening has been identified by the Horry County Coroner’s Office as Thomas Martin Jr., 52, of Henderson, N.C.
The crash involved multiple motorcycles and vehicles and backed up traffic in both directions near Myrtle Beach Mall, according to the Horry County Joint Information Center. The crash remains under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol.
Several other crashes involving motorcycles were reported Thursday evening, a day before Atlantic Beach Bikefest kicked off.
Just before 6 p.m. Thursday, police said a car and motorcycle collided on Mill Pond Road in Myrtle Beach, sending the driver of the bike to an area hospital by helicopter with head injuries. Police said Friday afternoon they had no updates on conditions of victims in Thursday’s crashes.
In a later crash, two motorcycles going south on Duffy Street in North Myrtle Beach crashed about 10:45 p.m. Thursday near 31st Avenue North, said Pat Dowling, North Myrtle Beach spokesman.
A 44-year-old Crewe, Va., man riding a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle was struck from behind by a 1991 Suzuki motorcycle driven by a 38-year-old man from Richmond, Va., Dowling said. The riders were not wearing helmets and both suffered head injuries when they were thrown from their bikes.
The men were taken to Grand Strand Medical Center for treatment, Dowling said.
In an unrelated crash at 11:25 p.m. Thursday, officers were called to U.S. 17 after a 32-year-old man turned south, crossed all lanes of traffic and hit a curb on the opposite side of the road, Dowling said. The man lost control of the motorcycle and fell over.
He suffered minor road rash and muffler burns and was treated at McLeod Seacoast Hospital.
This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 9:26 AM with the headline "More than a dozen motorcycle wrecks keep crews busy, two fatalities reported."