CONOVER, N.C. — A 74-year-old Conover woman faces a felony hit-and-run charge following a fatal weekend crash near N.C. Highway 16 in Catawba County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Elaine Knight was arrested after troopers investigated the collision that killed a motorcyclist Saturday morning.
Authorities identified the victim as Floyd Beal, 64, of Conover. Beal was riding a 1998 Honda VTR100 motorcycle at approximately 11:18 a.m. on Springs Road when the crash occurred. He was thrown from the motorcycle and died of his injuries at the scene.
State troopers initially responded to what appeared to be a single-vehicle motorcycle crash with an ejected driver. Upon further investigation, troopers determined a champagne 2015 Ford Fusion attempted to make a left turn onto N.C. 16 from Springs Road, failed to yield to the motorcycle, and drove away from the scene.
Troopers gathered evidence identifying the suspect vehicle, which led them to Knight’s residence in Conover. Troopers located Knight at her home and placed her under arrest.
Knight was charged with felony hit and run, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving and failure to yield. She was booked into the Catawba County Detention Center on a $28,000 secured bond.