North Wilkesboro – On Tuesday, May 5th, at approximately 9:57 p.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a single vehicle fatal collision on Mountain Valley Church Road near Cora Caudill Road, in Wilkes County. A 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 500 was traveling West on Mountain Valley Church Road and then drove off the road to the right, struck the guardrail, and overturned. The driver was then ejected across the guardrail.
The driver of the Kawasaki, Winston Jahleel Poe, 22, of North Wilkesboro, was transported by EMS to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation does not indicate impairment to be a contributing factor in the collision, however exceeding a safe speed for the curve did contribute to the collision. The roadway was closed for approximately 1 hour while Troopers conducted the on-scene investigation.
No charges will be filed in this case.