MORGANTON, N.C. — A Burke County motorcyclist escaped serious injury when he was purposely rammed in western Burke County.
The apparent cause — road rage.
Darren Blake Caldwell, 35, of 2300 Goodman Lake Road, Morganton told deputies he was riding his black 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 on N.C. 126 at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday when a driver in a red car pulled out in front of him suddenly, according to a Burke County sheriff’s report.
Caldwell stopped his bike and raised his hands to express his frustration before continuing on behind the car.
The driver of the car then slammed on his brakes in what Caldwell believes was an attempt to have Caldwell run into the back of the vehicle.
The biker decided to pass the car. After Caldwell went around the vehicle, he noticed the other driver began driving more aggressively and gained on the motorcycle.
The 35-year-old then noticed that one of the headlights was right behind his leg. He looked over to see the front of the car was soon beside his bike.
The car then struck Caldwell’s bike, he told police, and forced it off the road.
Caldwell believes he was going 50 mph when the car hit him.
The report said Caldwell only suffered “road rash,” with abrasions to his left shoulder, left elbow and left hip. His clothes were also torn and his bike sustained $1,000 in damage.
A nearby motorist stopped to help Caldwell. The man, a practicing physician in Morganton, offered to act as a witness and made sure Caldwell was OK before EMS arrived.
Trooper Josh Shuffler with the N.C. State Highway Patrol initially responded to the scene, but the case was turned over to Lt. David Kiser with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office when it became clear the wreck was no accident.
When the report was filed Tuesday night, no one had been charged.