This 1998 Mack truck, driven by 45-year-old Donald Folts of West Valley, N.Y., jackknifed Thursday (June 27) on U.S. 23-74 near the Comfort Inn. The westbound trucker lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median and came to rest across the highway's eastbound lanes, blocking traffic for close to 2 hours. No other vehicles were involved; Folts has been charged with exceeding safe speed, said Sgt. Matt Wike of the N.C. Highway Patrol. - Herald photo by David Bailey
A tractor-trailer heading toward Sylva jackknifed Thursday (June 27) and slowed traffic for more than three hours. The one-vehicle accident occurred at 2:51 p.m. near the Comfort Inn. Donald Folts, 45, of West Valley, N.Y., was traveling west on U.S. 23-74 when he lost control of his rig on wet pavement, said Sgt. Matt Wike of the N.C. Highway Patrol. The 1988 Mack truck crossed the grass median and struck the eastbound lanes' guardrail, coming to rest across both eastbound lanes, Wike said. Folts, who was charged with exceeding safe speed, was not injured, according to Wike. Damage to the truck, which is owned by Carolina Furniture of Buffalo, N.Y., was estimated at $10,000; damage to the guardrail was estimated to be $2,250, Wike said. Trooper M.S. McLeod prepared the report. The jackknifed tractor-trailer was one of a string of area motor vehicle accidents to occur in less than two weeks. The most serious was a June 24 two-car collision near Sylva's Wal-Mart. Four were transported to Harris Regional Hospital after a 1998 Accura driven by 18-year-old Stephen Dwayne Walkingstick of Cherokee crossed the centerline and struck a 1997 Ford driven by Michael Dewey Bryson, 33, of Cullowhee. Walkingstick was traveling north in the passing lane on 107 when he lost control of his car, swerved and spun out of control, crossing the center turn lane and colliding with Bryson's vehicle, said Mary Cook of the Sylva Police Department. Both drivers and Walkingstick's passengers - 17-year-old Brandy Nicole Keen of Sylva and 19-year-old Joel Hartman Smith of Cherokee - were transported to Harris. All were treated and released, with the exception of Keen, who was transported to Asheville's Memorial Mission, said Harris Regional spokesman Brian Thomas. Walkingstick was cited for driving too fast for conditions, driving left of center and reckless driving, Cook said. Sylva Police officer Shannon Ashe filed the accident report. A June 22 motorcycle accident on N.C. 107 near East LaPorte sent 55-year-old David Griffith III to Harris Regional Hospital. Another June 22 motorcycle accident, this one on 107 south of Cashiers, sent Gene Anderson Land, 56, to Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. A June 23 two-car accident on 107 resulted in only minor injuries but caused substantial damage to the vehicles involved. Sanchez Jesus Alfonso, 24, lost control of his 1994 Toyota and struck a 2000 Toyota driven by Jonthan Edward Farmer, 36. Both drivers sustained minor injuries, according to the report filed by Trooper Denny Wood. Damages to Alfonso's Toyota were estimated at $4,000, and damages to Farmer's Toyota were estimated at $7,000. Alfonso was charged with reckless driving. One person was injured in a Sunday, June 30, one-vehicle accident on U.S. 23-74 near the Monteith Branch bridge. James Brooks, 40, was transported to Harris Regional after his truck hydroplaned during heavy rain and overturned on the right side of the highway. Brooks was not charged, said Trooper B.S. Parker, who was on the scene. |