• Police: Driver distracted by bug kills motorcyclist, longtime Gastonia employee

  • A motorcyclist died Thursday after getting struck by a car driven by a man who was apparently distracted by a bug biting his leg. Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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  • Kevin Ellis
    Gazette staff
    Gaston Gazette
    Kevin Ellis
    Gazette staff
    Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 5:14 PM
    Updated at 6:11 PM
  • Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was killed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, while riding his Harley-Davidson.Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was killed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, while riding his Harley-Davidson. His job was to help program and maintain the traffic signals in the city. (Photo submitted)
    • Kevin Ellis
    Gazette staff

    Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 5:14 PM
    Updated at 6:11 PM

  • Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was killed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, while riding his Harley-Davidson. His job was to help program and maintain the traffic signals in the city. (Photo submitted)
     
    Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was killed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, while riding his Harley-Davidson. His job was to help program and maintain the traffic signals in the city. (Photo submitted)
  • Kevin Ellis
    Gazette staff

    Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 5:14 PM
    Updated at 6:11 PM

    A motorcyclist died Thursday in a crash caused by a man who was apparently distracted by a bug biting his leg.
    Milton William Rice Jr., who worked for the city of Gastonia for more than 20 years, was pronounced dead at the scene.
    Rice helped program and maintain the city traffic light system, said Matt Bernhardt, the director of Public Works and Utilities.
    “He was just one of those solid people who pulled their weight, got along with everybody and did everything anyone asked of him,” Bernhardt said.
    “Milton just had friends no matter where he went.”
    The wreck occurred at 4:20 p.m. Thursday on Sparrow Springs Road, just south of Freedom Mill Road, near Crowders Mountain State Park, according to Gastonia Police.
    Police say 31-year-old Bradford Lee Sawyer, of Kings Mountain, was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry that went left of center and struck the on-coming 1998 Harley-Davidson driven by Rice.
    “He said he was looking down at his leg, like he was getting bit by something,” said Officer L.A. Popovich. “He showed me on his ankle what was bothering him on his leg.”
    Popovich said he could see little red marks on the man’s leg. Neither speed, alcohol, drugs nor telephone use appear to be factors in the wreck.
    Popovich said he does not have any reason to doubt Sawyer’s story.
    “It’s just a tragedy,” Popovich said. “He was completely honest with me and very remorseful for what happened.”
    Rice arrived at work each morning around 6:30 and was known to enjoy riding his motorcycle in the afternoon.
    He was a 1982 graduate of Ashbrook High School and remained married to his high school sweetheart, the former Ann Shaver, whom he married in 1985.
    In addition to his wife, he was survived by two daughters and two grandchildren.
    He had recently become a grandfather again, Bernhardt said.
    Ham operators also remember Rice, an Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator as KC4YOT.
    Rice had to work with many different people in the city and with the state Department of Transportation. He never complained and always showed up ready to work, Bernhardt said.
    “I cannot think of a single person in the city who did not like him,” Bernhardt said.
    No charges have been filed in the wreck. Police will take their evidence to District Attorney Locke Bell who will determine what charges, if any, will be filed in the wreck.
    You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or on Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin