Special to IFN

The Statesville Police Department is actively investigating a serious injury collision that occurred on Tuesday, May 6, about 7:08 p.m. at the intersection of Garner Bagnal Boulevard and Buffalo Shoals Road.

The crash involved a 1985 Honda motorcycle and a 1994 Dodge truck. According to the preliminary investigation, the Dodge truck, driven by 63-year-old Rickey Dishmond of Statesville, was traveling westbound on Garner Bagnal Boulevard and attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Buffalo Shoals Road.

While Dishmond was in the left-turn lane, the motorcycle, operated by 34-year-old Joseph Collins, also of Statesville, entered the intersection. Dishmond failed to yield to oncoming traffic, resulting in Collins colliding with the passenger side of the truck, police said.

Collins sustained serious injuries in the crash. He was initially transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical, where was in critical condition on Wednesday afternoon.

Speed and impairment are not believed to be contributing factors in the collision, police said.

The SPD Traffic Division is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist with the investigation is urged to contact the Traffic Division at 704-878-3406.