By Andrea McCann
Washington Times-Herald
WASHINGTON —
Charles Payne, 51, of Shoals, was fatally injured in a traffic accident near Mr. Gatti’s Pizza Thursday evening.
Payne was driving his black 1982 Honda motorcycle eastbound on East National Highway at 6:22 p.m. when he was struck by a white 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer registered to Tri-County Towing and driven by Crystal Carreon, 32, of Washington.
Carreon was northbound on Bussard Road and waiting to turn west onto E. Nat’l Highway. A passenger car eastbound on east National Highway merged into the turn lane to go south on Bussard Road, obstructing Carreon’s view of Payne’s motorcycle. She pulled into the intersection, colliding with the side of the motorcycle.
Payne, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the motorcycle. He was transported to Daviess Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. An autopsy was being performed Friday afternoon to determine the exact cause of death.
“The cause of death was due to the accident, but until the coroner’s investigation is complete, we don’t have the exact cause of death,” said Washington Police Chief Steve Riney. “The investigation is ongoing.”
