A Canton resident lost his life in a motorcycle accident last Wednesday evening, causing significant delays on U.S. 23/74 for approximately ninety minutes. N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper Samantha Hyatt reported the incident around 5:45 p.m.
According to Hyatt, James Dale Milton Jr., 45, was traveling westbound on his 2010 Kawasaki when he veered off the road near mile marker 92, just west of Woodfin Road, leading to a loss of control.
“Based on the available evidence, it seems the motorcycle left the road and collided with the median guardrail,” she explained. “The impact caused him to be thrown from the motorcycle, and both he and the bike ended up in the westbound lanes.”
Hyatt estimated Milton’s speed to be around 65 mph and confirmed that the weather was not a contributing factor.
Sylva Police Officer Josh Geiger, who was en route to work, and a Balsam first responder were the first to arrive at the scene, alongside personnel from Balsam Fire, Harris EMS, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to the State Highway Patrol.
Milton was known as an assistant coach for the Smoky Mountain Midget football team.
