Article (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/11421554.htm)

Posted on Mon, Apr. 18, 2005

Man dies after motorcycle strikes dog on I-26

A motorcyclist from the Asheville, N.C., area died over the weekend after his Harley Davidson struck a dog on I-26 in Newberry County.

Randy Joel Rugh, 45, of Fairview, N.C., became the 10th motorist killed this year in Newberry County, authorities said.

Rugh was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m. Saturday at Palmetto Health Richland hospital in Columbia, but the accident happened at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Newberry County Coroner James Smith said.

Rugh died of head injuries, Smith said.

Sheriff Lee Foster said Rugh is the 10th person to die in accidents this year, far more than in recent years.

The Highway Patrol said the dog ran onto the interstate as Rugh drove a 2003 Harley toward Columbia at the 75 mile marker near exit 76. The speed limit in that area is 70 mph, patrol spokesman Steve Sluder said.

Rugh, of 23 Laynette Drive, was not wearing a helmet, Sluder said. Rugh was thrown onto the emergency lane on the right shoulder of the interstate.

The dog also was killed.

One of my co-workers was in Daytona for bike week when two dogs ran into the road. Her husband managed to avoid them, but she hit one. She said impact (fairly large dog) jerked the bars right out of her hands. Broken arm and collar bone I believe. She said at the time she was going to sell her Fatboy and never get on a bike again. I was saddened to hear that because she was a fine motor officer when assigned to the traffic division. Saw her a couple of weeks ago and she's changed her mind on the whole selling the bike thing :) The dog assumed room temperature as a result of the impact.