Two motorcyclists were involved in an accident Wednesday as they escorted a bus of World War II veterans on I-20 in DeKalb County, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The accident, which temporarily shut down westbound lanes on I-20 at Evans Mill Road, happened about 6 a.m. after a procession of 23 vets left Conyers for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Traffic Center reported.
They were escorted by 10 Patriot Guard Riders as part of an Honor Flight program that provides free trips for vets to see memorials in Washington, D.C.
Cecil Evans of McDonough was driving a Harley-Davidson FLH 80 on I-20 when traffic in front of him slowed.
He tried to stop but lost control of his motorcycle because the road was wet, according to a DeKalb police incident report.
David Shreckengost, one of the Patriot Guard Riders, saw as “everything came to a screeching halt.”
He said the tire on the motorcycle of one of the escorts locked.
He went down.
Patriot Guard Rider Doug White of Stockbridge told police he was driving behind Evans’ motorcycle when it fell to the ground, causing him to lose control of his own Harley.
The two men were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with injuries. White was released about noon with some bumps, bruises and a broken thumb that will require surgery, his daughter-in-law Jessica White said.
“We are so thankful he had his full gear on as his injuries could have been much worse,” she said.
Evans’ status was not immediately known.
All lanes reopened just before 7:20 a.m. and the bus of vets continued to the airport, the Traffic Center reported.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
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