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Georgia couple injured in motorcycle accident

By Carey Phillips

A husband and wife from Gainesville, Ga., were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon on U.S. 23-74.

Perry Steven Buckner Jr. and Maxine L. Buckner were initially taken to Harris Regional Hospital then airlifted to other medical facilities.

As of Wednesday morning, Maxine Buckner was listed in critical but stable condition at Mission-St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville. Perry Buckner was listed in serious but stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Trooper S.K. Bowers of the N.C. Highway Patrol said Perry Buckner was operating the 1983 Honda when the accident occurred in the westbound lane about a half mile east of the Dillsboro exit.

He said witnesses and physical evidence indicated the motorcycle was traveling about 55 mph when the rear tire blew out. Witnesses said the motorcycle began weaving from side to side then turned over on its left side.

Bowers said one witness said the motorcycle "spun like a bottle top" before it came to rest in the right lane with both victims pinned under it.

He called the condition of the tire "a major factor" in the accident.

Back to Archive: 03/30/00.