A local man sustained serious injuries last week after a high-speed motorcycle crash in Smithville. The victim was transported to the hospital and later airlifted with serious injuries to his arm.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Taylor Peery was riding a 1998 Suzuki JS1 motorcycle, traveling east at a high rate of speed in the left lane of West Broad Street (Highway 70), when he struck a 2011 Ford Ranger pickup, driven by 76-year-old John Rigsby. Rigsby had been pulling out of the parking lot of Larry’s Discount Groceries at the time.

Witnesses reported that the motorcycle was speeding and splitting lanes between cars just before the accident. The motorcycle hit the front side of the truck, and Peery was thrown over the hood into the windshield of the pickup, and came to rest several feet away in the roadway.

Peery was wearing a helmet, but sustained severe injuries. He was transported by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital, then airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Rigsby was wearing his seatbelt and was uninjured.

DeKalb EMS, the Smithville Police Department, and Smithville Fire Department responded to the scene. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.