Man Dies Following Motorcycle Accident

EDOM—A motorcyclist died late last week as the result of a crash which happened November 4, 1.7 miles southeast of Edom on State Highway 64.

This is the fourth fatal crash in three weeks that Department of Public Safety officials are investigating.

The victim, John Robert Ragsdale, 59, Canton, was traveling east on State Highway 64 on a 2006 white Yamaha Road Star followed by 19-year-old Canton resident Damon L. Smith in a 2004 Honda Accord.

"Traffic began to slow and Smith failed to control his speed, veered to the left and struck Ragsdale in the rear with the right back quarter of his vehicle," investigating trooper Edward Valdez explained.

Upon impact, Ragsdale was pushed into the south ditch where his motorcycle overturned, ejecting him.

"The vehicle came to rest in the north ditch facing east," Valdez said.

Ragsdale was transported by Air 1 Central to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

He was pronounced dead two days later, on November 6, by Smith County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Quincy Beavers.

"This kid just wasn’t paying attention, hitting him with the back side of the car pushing him into the ditch," Valdez said.

Ragsdale was not wearing a helmet.

Smith’s charges of failure to control speed will be upgraded to criminal negligent homicide.

The accident is still under investigation.