A man is dead after crashing his motorcycle on N.C. Highway 18 South near Miller Bridge Road in Connelly Springs on Monday evening.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was headed north on N.C. Highway 18 South between Miller Bridge Road and George Hildebran School Road at a very high rate of speed when the motorcycle crossed the center line and hit a work van around 6:10 p.m. Monday, said Sgt. A.K. Johnson with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The force of the crash sent both vehicles into the tree line to the east of the road. Both vehicles caught on fire, Johnson said.
The driver of the van was able to crawl out of the van, Johnson said. The man driving the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
George Hildebran Fire Rescue responded to the scene along with Burke County EMS, Burke County REACT and the Highway Patrol.
Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. Follow on Twitter.