BY KEN LITTLE
STAFF WRITER
Alcohol use may have been a contributing factor in a motorcycle crash that killed a Jonesborough man about 4:55 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of U.S. 11E and state Route 107, an investigating state trooper said in a report.
James R. Counts, 50, of Spider Barnes Road, was northbound on 11E when the wreck occurred, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Paul Kilday said in the report.
"A witness advised he saw the motorcycle approaching behind him and noticed the driver of the motorcycle was not stopping," the report said.
The driver of the car moved to the right lane to get out of the way of the 2001 Harley-Davidson.
As Counts approached the intersection, he moved to the left to avoid stopped traffic "and was thrown from the motorcycle," the report said.
The motorcycle rolled three times and Counts struck a sign, the report said.
Counts was flown by Wings Air Rescue to the University of Tennessee Medical Center emergency room, where he was pronounced dead, the report said.
"The driver smelled of alcohol and had eight bottles of beer in his side bag," the report concluded.
Toxicology test results on Counts are pending. He was wearing a helmet, the report said.








