BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — A motorcyclist from Decatur was seriously injured in a crash while riding on the stretch of U.S. Highway 129 known as 'The Dragon' on Memorial Day.
According to the crash report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Daniel Davis was riding a 2006 Harley Davidson on Monday when he failed to negotiate a curve at around the nine-mile marker.
He laid the bike down and the bike came to rest off the roadway. Davis was thrown off the bike and tumbled 30 to 40 feet down an embankment.
He was flown by medical helicopter to UT Medical Center where he is in serious condition.
Several agencies responded to the incident. The Blount County Fire Department conducted a vertical rescue with rope.
"Pretty steep embankment at this point, it was almost vertical," Capt. Johnny Leatherwood said. "We drop our basket down and get him in the basket and get him back on the road just as quick as possible."
Blount County Fire says it's the main agency to respond to rescues on The Dragon.
"It's all the time that we go up there, and it's not a happy ending like this one," Leatherwood said.
Original story
Emergency crews are responding to a motorcycle crash on a stretch of U.S. Highway 129 known as 'The Dragon.'
According to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened near the North Carolina state line at mile marker 10, saying the motorcycle went about 20 to 30 feet down the embankment.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Blount County emergency crews are responding.
THP said the motorcyclist was alone and was seriously hurt in the crash.
This story is developing.