DM-SC
18th May 2005, 16:38
3rd death recorded; vendors sell early
Answers sought in latest fatality
By Tonya Root
The Sun News
The death toll associated with the 2005 Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Myrtle Beach Rally climbed to three Tuesday after a woman was found dead on the shoulder of U.S. 17 Bypass near Inlet Square Mall.
As investigators searched for clues in the woman's death, bikers crowded area roads awaiting the official start of some events set for today.
City officials also issued Broadway at the Beach a citation Tuesday after some vendors set up or sold items early in violation of their permits.
The second motorcyclist killed while in town for the rally was identified Tuesday.
Gregory Cantor, 45, of Forest Hill, Md., was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash just before 10 p.m. Monday on S.C. 9 near H.B. Spokes in the Longs area, said Charles Sendler with the Horry County coroner's office. Cantor was not wearing a helmet. S.C. law does not require helmets for riders older than 21.
"That investigation is closed," Highway Patrol Trooper Sonny Collins said. "It was an 18-wheeler slowing, and the motorcycle ran into the back of it."
The southbound lanes of S.C. 9 were closed for some time after the crash until the scene was cleared, officials said.
As Highway Patrol troopers worked to finish the investigation into Cantor's death, they were called to the southern end of the Grand Strand after a woman was found dead on the shoulder of U.S. 17 Bypass, officials said.
Paula Adkins, 37, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., was found about 11:30 p.m. Monday along U.S. 17 Bypass near Inlet Square Mall, Collins said.
Adkins, who was in town for the bike rally, died at 12:09 a.m. at Waccamaw Community Hospital of internal injuries, Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said.
An autopsy was performed Tuesday.
Officials said they were unsure Tuesday whether Adkins was struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian or was a passenger on a motorcycle and was injured after falling off.
Witnesses initially told officials she fell off a motorcycle, but that was not confirmed Tuesday.
"We don't have any [specific] leads on this other than she was found on the shoulder of the road," Collins said. "We don't know right now if she was struck or fell from a bike or from a vehicle. We've got more questions than we do answers right now."
Officials classified Adkins' death as a suspicious pedestrian fatality and sought to interview any witnesses who were in the area about 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Anyone with information about the woman or who might have seen something suspicious about 10:30 p.m. Monday in that area can call the Highway Patrol at 365-5001.
Minor wrecks peppered the first days of May's bike rallies.
Horry County Fire Rescue officials said Tuesday that they had responded to about 50 motorcycle wrecks since 8 a.m. Friday.
Surfside Beach police said a Monday morning wreck was the town's first motorcycle fatality in several years, and it was the first death associated with this year's Harley spring rally.
Harvey Harold Ocallaghan, 49, of Hampstead, Md., was killed early Monday when his motorcycle hit a car as he traveled the wrong way in the 600 block of U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, said Steve Homitz, deputy chief of the Surfside Beach Public Safety Department.
Ocallaghan hit a 1997 Honda as he drove south in the northbound lane of traffic, Homitz said.
No one in the car was injured, he said. The State Law Enforcement Division will perform a blood test on Ocallaghan, Homitz said.
Police said they hope this year's rallies will follow last year's trend, which saw a decline in fatalities.
There were three deaths in last year's rallies, down from 15 in 2003.
Paul Whitten, public safety director for Horry County, said that during the Harley rally, county police get assistance from officers in the environmental services, Sheriff's Office and the state Highway Patrol.
"They are in a visibility role, and to be seen to address any situations before they become a problem," Whitten said.
With so many bikers already in town, some vendors at Broadway at the Beach, adjusting to new four-day permits this year, started setting up or selling in recent days before the city permit allowed.
City officials issued a citation to Broadway at the Beach on Tuesday after several visits during the past few days, city spokesman Mark Kruea said.
Sales at the 10 locations that received Myrtle Beach permits, including Broadway, Club Kryptonite and Town Square Entertainment, could not start until today.
Meanwhile, other vendors outside the city limits already were raking in the cash. Barefoot Landing, the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealership and others were in business during the weekend, when more bikers than expected showed up.
Vendors and activities at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center start today.
"The rest of the county has had a field day," said Pat Dowling, spokesman for Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., which owns Broadway at the Beach. "It appears to me the city is out to pretty much kill the Harley festival in Myrtle Beach."
That's not the case, said Kruea, adding that City Council prefers the vendors set up to match the official festival rally dates, today through Saturday, and not stretch 10 days.
Answers sought in latest fatality
By Tonya Root
The Sun News
The death toll associated with the 2005 Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Myrtle Beach Rally climbed to three Tuesday after a woman was found dead on the shoulder of U.S. 17 Bypass near Inlet Square Mall.
As investigators searched for clues in the woman's death, bikers crowded area roads awaiting the official start of some events set for today.
City officials also issued Broadway at the Beach a citation Tuesday after some vendors set up or sold items early in violation of their permits.
The second motorcyclist killed while in town for the rally was identified Tuesday.
Gregory Cantor, 45, of Forest Hill, Md., was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash just before 10 p.m. Monday on S.C. 9 near H.B. Spokes in the Longs area, said Charles Sendler with the Horry County coroner's office. Cantor was not wearing a helmet. S.C. law does not require helmets for riders older than 21.
"That investigation is closed," Highway Patrol Trooper Sonny Collins said. "It was an 18-wheeler slowing, and the motorcycle ran into the back of it."
The southbound lanes of S.C. 9 were closed for some time after the crash until the scene was cleared, officials said.
As Highway Patrol troopers worked to finish the investigation into Cantor's death, they were called to the southern end of the Grand Strand after a woman was found dead on the shoulder of U.S. 17 Bypass, officials said.
Paula Adkins, 37, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., was found about 11:30 p.m. Monday along U.S. 17 Bypass near Inlet Square Mall, Collins said.
Adkins, who was in town for the bike rally, died at 12:09 a.m. at Waccamaw Community Hospital of internal injuries, Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said.
An autopsy was performed Tuesday.
Officials said they were unsure Tuesday whether Adkins was struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian or was a passenger on a motorcycle and was injured after falling off.
Witnesses initially told officials she fell off a motorcycle, but that was not confirmed Tuesday.
"We don't have any [specific] leads on this other than she was found on the shoulder of the road," Collins said. "We don't know right now if she was struck or fell from a bike or from a vehicle. We've got more questions than we do answers right now."
Officials classified Adkins' death as a suspicious pedestrian fatality and sought to interview any witnesses who were in the area about 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Anyone with information about the woman or who might have seen something suspicious about 10:30 p.m. Monday in that area can call the Highway Patrol at 365-5001.
Minor wrecks peppered the first days of May's bike rallies.
Horry County Fire Rescue officials said Tuesday that they had responded to about 50 motorcycle wrecks since 8 a.m. Friday.
Surfside Beach police said a Monday morning wreck was the town's first motorcycle fatality in several years, and it was the first death associated with this year's Harley spring rally.
Harvey Harold Ocallaghan, 49, of Hampstead, Md., was killed early Monday when his motorcycle hit a car as he traveled the wrong way in the 600 block of U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, said Steve Homitz, deputy chief of the Surfside Beach Public Safety Department.
Ocallaghan hit a 1997 Honda as he drove south in the northbound lane of traffic, Homitz said.
No one in the car was injured, he said. The State Law Enforcement Division will perform a blood test on Ocallaghan, Homitz said.
Police said they hope this year's rallies will follow last year's trend, which saw a decline in fatalities.
There were three deaths in last year's rallies, down from 15 in 2003.
Paul Whitten, public safety director for Horry County, said that during the Harley rally, county police get assistance from officers in the environmental services, Sheriff's Office and the state Highway Patrol.
"They are in a visibility role, and to be seen to address any situations before they become a problem," Whitten said.
With so many bikers already in town, some vendors at Broadway at the Beach, adjusting to new four-day permits this year, started setting up or selling in recent days before the city permit allowed.
City officials issued a citation to Broadway at the Beach on Tuesday after several visits during the past few days, city spokesman Mark Kruea said.
Sales at the 10 locations that received Myrtle Beach permits, including Broadway, Club Kryptonite and Town Square Entertainment, could not start until today.
Meanwhile, other vendors outside the city limits already were raking in the cash. Barefoot Landing, the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealership and others were in business during the weekend, when more bikers than expected showed up.
Vendors and activities at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center start today.
"The rest of the county has had a field day," said Pat Dowling, spokesman for Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., which owns Broadway at the Beach. "It appears to me the city is out to pretty much kill the Harley festival in Myrtle Beach."
That's not the case, said Kruea, adding that City Council prefers the vendors set up to match the official festival rally dates, today through Saturday, and not stretch 10 days.