Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers responded to a trike-motorcycle accident with two riders on Newfound Gap Road just north of Newfound Gap near Morton Overlook on Friday, Oct. 27 at 2:10pm. A male rider and female rider, both age 71, of Knoxville, Tenn., were transported to UT Medical Center by LifeStar where the the male rider was pronounced dead.
The motorcycle was traveling north when it crossed over the center line, struck a vehicle in the southbound lane, and then collided with a rock retaining wall. Both riders were ejected over the wall and tumbled down the near vertical embankment, falling about 40 yards. Park Rangers and emergency responders with the Park Technical Rescue Team, Gatlinburg Fire Department, and Pigeon Forge Rescue Team performed a technical rope rescue to hoist the patients to the roadway. None of the occupants in the southbound vehicle involved in the accident were injured.
No additional details are available at this time.
– NPS
