EURE – A Perquimans County man lost his life here last week when the motorcycle he was operating collided with a deer.

On Friday morning (Nov. 23), Benjamin Gaither Cullipher, 65, of Hertford was driving a 2012 Harley Davidson west on NC 137, according to a report filed by North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper M. Cerbone.

Cullipher was on the east side of Eure (near the White Oak Road intersection) when a deer came out of a wooded area and attempted to cross the highway. Cerbone’s report showed that the motorcycle struck the deer, causing Cullipher to lose control of the bike. It traveled off the right side of the road, came back on the highway and overturned.

Cullipher was ejected and came to rest in the westbound lane of NC 137. Meanwhile, the motorcycle kept traveling off the left side of the road before stopping when it impacted the ditch.

Cullipher was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he succumbed due to the injuries sustained in the accident.

At the time of the crash, Cullipher was wearing a DOT approved helmet, according to Cerbone. The Trooper reported that speed was not a factor in the accident.

The accident caused the fourth fatality on Gates County’s roadways this year.