Asheville -- July 23, 2026: Asheville Police are actively investigating a fatal single-motorcycle collision on Interstate 40 West that claimed the life of Robert Franklin Owen III. Authorities are appealing for public information to understand why the 2005 Honda motorcycle left the roadway and struck a guardrail.
Owen, 49, of Nebo, North Carolina, was identified as the motorcyclist who died following the crash. The incident occurred on July 6 near the 49-mile marker on I-40 West in Asheville. Owen was operating a 2005 Honda motorcycle traveling west when, for an unknown reason, the motorcycle left the roadway, struck a guardrail, and Owen was ejected. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mission Hospital, where he later died on July 17 as a result of those injuries.
The Asheville Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit is leading the ongoing investigation. As of the latest release, no definitive cause for the motorcycle departing the travel lane has been publicly identified. The police report explicitly states that the reason the motorcycle left the roadway is "unknown," prompting the call for public assistance.
Authorities are seeking clues and information that could clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips can also be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411.
The investigation continues as the Traffic Safety Unit works to determine how and why the crash occurred, relying on community input to help piece together the events leading to the fatal collision.