2005-04-17
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff
Three injured motorcyclists were airlifted from U.S. 129 Friday by Lifestar and two more on Saturday.
Almost all the crashes occurred on the Dragon, the 11-mile section of the highway between Tab Cat Creek and the North Carolina state line famous in motorcycling circles for its 318 curves.
Tail of the Dragon Web site at
www.tailofthedragon.com reported in its news section posted Saturday morning that there were ``at least five accidents on or near the Dragon'' Friday with four people taken to hospitals, three of them airlifted due to the severity of their injuries.
According to Tail of the Dragon, ``BCSO (Blount County Sheriff's Office) began a stricter enforcement in the afternoon (on Friday) -- and we can't blame them. If you are coming to the Dragon this weekend, we advise you to ride safe and within the law.''
According to the Web site, motorcyclists who ride Suzuki's Hyabusa model were gathering at Robbinsville, N.C., for Busa Bash III, an event which included rides throughout the area including the Dragon.
Sheriff James Berrong confirmed that he put extra officers on the winding highway Friday afternoon, funding the extra patrol with some of the money from a highway safety grant. He said efforts to keep motorcyclists and other motorists who use U.S. 129 safe will continue. He also said he appreciates the safety messages displayed on the Web site and hopes riders take heed.
At 11:15 a.m. Friday, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Ernest Marion responded to a motorcycle crash on U.S. 129 about a mile from the Monroe County line. Martin said Tomas Hradil, 30, of Chicago was thrown off his bike on a curve and the motorcycle caught fire.
Rural/Metro Ambulance Service paramedics determined that Hradil's injuries appeared serious enough to require airlifting him to University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar. He was treated in the emergency room and had been released Saturday evening.
At 12:06 p.m. Friday, Blount County Sheriff's deputies investigated a crash on U.S. 129 near the Tennessee/North Carolina line. Paul J. Sisilli, 42, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., was headed northbound down the Dragon when he lost control of his Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycle and went into a ditch.
Again, Rural/Metro Ambulance Service paramedics called for Lifestar to take Sisilli to UT Hospital. He was listed in stable condition Saturday.
Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, Trooper Bryan Martin responded to a motorcycle crash near the 6-mile marker on the Dragon. He said James Henry III, 35, of Georgia was negotiating a curve when he lost control and went off a 15-foot embankment. Henry was also airlifted to UT hospital, treated and later released.
Around 1 p.m. Saturday, Trooper Brent Cagle investigated a motorcycle crash on the Dragon that sent both people aboard the bike to UT hospital by Lifestar. Details of the accident and names of the victims were not available Saturday evening.
In addition to the three motorcycle accidents Friday requiring the services of Lifestar, the medical evacuation helicopter responded to Blount County two more times, picking up someone injured in a horseback riding accident near Tremont in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at a landing zone in Townsend and transporting a man injured in a lawnmower accident at Walland.
The five Lifestar trips to Blount County is believed to be a record number of responses here in a single day.
