News

Motorcyclist fleeing law officers crashes into EHHS basketball team bus

By Bill Moss, Published: February 7, 2024

A motorcyclist fleeing law officers was critically injured Wednesday when he crashed into an activity bus carrying the East Henderson High School varsity basketball teams, the State Highway Patrol said. No one on the bus was injured.

The bus was traveling on Upward Road toward I-26 when the crash happened around 4:40 p.m., Highway Patrol Sgt. Chris Scerri said. The motorcycle driver was airlifted to Mission HCA Hospital, where he was in critical condition but "responding to treatment," the trooper said.

"To the best of our knowledge he was involved in a chase with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office," Scerri said, adding he did not know why. Information on any charges would come from the sheriff's office, he said.

Later Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office said a patrol deputy had initiated a traffic stop of the motorcycle for failure to display a registration number plate. The driver of the motorcycle, identified as 21-year-old Colton Summey of Zirconia, sped way to evade the officer's attempt to pull him over, the sheriff's office said. "During the pursuit, Summey recklessly operated the motorcycle, resulting in a loss of control and collision with two other vehicles on Upward Rd near the I-26 overpass," the news release said.

Following the collision, law officers administered lifesaving first aid to Summey until Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue and Henderson County EMS arrived.

Deputies charged Summey with felony charges of fleeing to elude arrest and possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Hendersonville Police Department also brought criminal charges against Summey for an interaction they had with him earlier in the day on Wednesday, the sheriff's office said.

The basketball teams were en route to North Henderson High School for an away game versus the Knights when the crash happened near the State Employees Credit Union. A  public address announcer made an announcement to fans in the stands that the East team bus had been involved in "a tragic accident." A moment of silence was held and the game was called off. The announcement came after an East coach notified NHHS coaches that a crash had occurred and the bus was still on the scene, said WTZQ owner Mark Warwick. The station's play-by-play announcers were at the NHHS gym to broadcast the games. The men's game was played. (North won 50-47. The varsity girls were scheduled to play the makeup game at 5 p.m. today.

"We are relieved to report that the Feb. 6 incident involving a Henderson County Public Schools activity bus did not result in any injuries to students or staff," the school system said in a statement. "The East Henderson High School varsity basketball teams and cheerleaders were en route to a game when a motorcycle struck the bus while it was traveling on Upward Road. Our sincere appreciation goes to the emergency responders for their prompt response and assistance at the scene."

East principal Brandon Scott said he was thankful everyone aboard the bus was OK.

“Physically they are — emotionally, a little shaken up,” he said.

Scott was in communication with his bosses and with teachers and coaches at the scene.

“I was speaking with district leadership and the bus driver and one of our counselors is the cheerleading coach, so she was on the bus” he said. He also was able to get updates via phone from his daughter, Karlie, a junior who is a cheerleader.

"The police officers handled it really well, professionally, and our adults did a great job responding," Scott said. "Really felt like everybody handled it as well as possible."

Rumors that the motorcycle driver had died were circulating Tuesday night and persisted Wednesday.

“I know that's been going around," Sgt. Scerri said Wednesday. "I don't know where people heard that. But the driver was still alive when he got flown to Mission and I talked to the grandmother and he's still alive tonight. ... I don't know if it was kids on the bus that said he died but I know they said some kids were saying on social media that he died. I don't know where any of them got that information from.”