The N.C. State Highway Patrol charged Mary Geouge, 61, of East Flat Rock with misdemeanor death by a vehicle following a July 16 crash in East Flat Rock that took the life of a Saluda man.

State troopers estimated Geouge was travelling approximately 80 mph when she was driving along Hwy. 176 westbound the morning of July 16 and struck Saluda’s Christopher “Adam” Jackson, 24, who was driving a moped.

The speed limit on Hwy. 176 through East Flat Rock is 45 mph.

Crash reports state that Geouge’s Lincoln struck the moped, with the moped hitting a parked car in the General Electric parking lot, caught fire and damaged three other vehicles in the parking lot. The Lincoln struck a utility pole and then another vehicle, according to reports.

The wreck occurred at 8:51 a.m. July 16 and shut down the road for hours while Duke Energy crews replaced the utility pole.

Geouge was taken to Pardee Hospital by ambulance and released later that day.

Jackson was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but troopers said he was launched into the air upon impact. Jackson was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville with a head injuries. He died on Saturday, July 19.

The charge of misdemeanor death by a vehicle is a class A1 misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 60 days in jail if Geouge is convicted.

Jackson’s services were held on Saturday, July 26.