Family pleads for driver to come forward after deadly motorcycle crash

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The family of a Mocksville man killed in a motorcycle crash is pleading with a driver who left the scene to come forward.

Troopers said a 31-year-old John Michael Alexander died in a crash in Rowan County Thursday night.
 
They said the wreck happened on Highway 801 at Bear Poplar Road in Mount Ulla around 6:40 p.m.

Troopers said Alexander was driving his black motorcycle in a reckless manner. It ran off the road and crashed in a ditch. Alexander was ejected, and he and the motorcycle crashed through a cemetery, hitting a number of headstones.

Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness told troopers the motorcycle was traveling with an older model black convertible Mustang. The Mustang passed the witness first and then the motorcycle followed. The motorcycle stayed on the wrong side of the road, the witness said.

"Come forward just tell us what went wrong what happened you've got to have a conscience you seen it happen, why didn't you stop?  What went wrong?" sister Minday Newton said.

Both were traveling at a high rate of speed, the witness told troopers.

Troopers want to speak with the driver of the Mustang to find out what happened. Officials said they weren't sure in the car and the motorcycle collided.

"It was an accident and I feel that if they step forward they will be able to sleep better at night," said Nikki Newton, Alexander's sister.

Troopers said Alexander was wearing a helmet.

There was damage to the cemetery as many headstones were knocked down.

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WSOC