The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:31 PM

74-Year Old New York Man Dies In Motorcycle Accident In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers and the Gatlinburg Fire Department said a 74-year-old man died in a motorcycle accident in the park Saturday morning.

Investigators said Jeffrey Breitkopf, of Selden, NY, left the roadway on Little River Road and hit a tree before landing in the river 15 feet below the roadway.

Rangers said they responded to the accident around 10:20 a.m.

Emergency responders told Local 8 News they placed Breitkopf in a rescue basket and carried him up the embankment before transporting him to LeConte Medical Center at 11:20 a.m.

Breitkopf was flown to U.T. Medical Center where later died.