Rankhorn airlifted after two cycles collide

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Jason David Rankhorn was airlifted for treatment after his motorcycle crashed into the rear of another cycle driven by his friend, Jeremy Lee Crouch, on Smithville Highway at Moose Lodge Hill Saturday afternoon. (Duane Sherrill photo)

One cyclist was critically injured when a pair of motorcycles collided on Moose Lodge Hill Saturday afternoon.

The injured victim, Jason Lee Rankhorn, 31, was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center by LifeFlight helicopter for treatment of head injuries. The driver of the other cycle, Jeremy Lee Crouch, 22, was not injured and was able to guide his cycle to a stop over an embankment near the bottom of Moose Lodge Hill.

Preliminary investigation of the wreck revealed the pair of cyclists were riding together heading toward McMinnville on separate motorcycles, on Smithville Highway around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Crouch, who was aboard the lead cycle, told lawmen he hit his brakes as he was about halfway down the hill. However, Rankhorn, immediately behind him, must not have realized his friend was slowing in time to hit his own brakes.

It was at that point Rankhorn’s cycle collided with the rear of Crouch’s, causing Rankhorn to lose control and overturn. His cycle headed over an embankment and ejected him. Crouch’s vehicle, despite significant rear-end damage, was able to be brought to a stop at the bottom of the hill. Crouch, though shaken, was uninjured.

Rankhorn, who suffered a head injury in the crash, was rushed to the nearby fairgrounds ball field where one of the fields was commandeered and used as a landing zone for LifeFlight helicopter, leaving scores of softball players and spectators watching the airlift.