17-year-old motorcyclist with ‘big fun-loving heart’ dies in head-on wreck, NC cops say

A teenage motorcyclist died after he was hit head-on by a suspected intoxicated driver, North Carolina state troopers say.

Austin Gaither, 17, died on Friday, June 2, after he was struck by a pick-up truck in Lexington, a public information officer told McClatchy News. He was driving his Suzuki motorcycle when he collided head-on with a Chevrolet pick-up truck.

The officer said Byron Hyde had been driving the pick-up truck in the northbound lane on Linwood-Southmont Road when he attempted to pass the car in front of him using the southbound lane.

When Hyde, 27, tried to go around the car, he struck Gaither’s motorcycle, according to the officer. Gaither died on the scene.

Hyde has since been charged with felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired, the officer said.

Loved ones remembered Gaither as “a guy that loved to have fun, help others and be with his friends,” according to his obituary.

“His true passion was his motorcycle. He loved to ride,” his obituary said. “Aside from his jobs, his hobbies and his motorcycle, his big fun-loving heart caused him to want to and love to hang out with his family and friends, his dog, June, go fishing and just enjoy life and live it to the fullest every day.”

Other loved ones shared tributes for Gaither on social media.

“My heart is literally shattered,” one person wrote in a Facebook post. “Austin [you] put a big impact on people’s lives and kept everyone smiling and laughing around [you]!”

“I don’t even know what say or think,” Gaither’s sister wrote in a post. “I never would have thought my baby brother would not be coming home to say something stupid and making us laugh. This doesn’t seem real at all.”

“He was the most amazing most kindhearted person [you would] ever meet and he meant the world to me,” another Facebook post said. “I’ll never go a day without him crossing my mind.”

Lexington is about 60 miles northeast of Charlotte.

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