WINDSOR – A motor vehicle accident near here Tuesday night resulted in damage to a bridge.

Dakota Blackwell Ray, 20, of Windsor, was charged with exceeding safe speed and failure to wear a seat belt following the 8:16 p.m. wreck on Charles Taylor Road (RP 1221), west of NC 305 near Ebenezer Assembly of God Church.

According to North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper C.W. Godwin, Ray was operating a 2001 Chevrolet pick up truck west on RP 1221 at a high rate of speed. The truck crossed the center line, traveled off the left side of the roadway where it struck the bridge railing. From that point the vehicle became airborne over the creek, landing on the west bank of the waterway where it struck a tree and came to rest.

A portion of the wooden railing penetrated the bottom of the truck and entered the passenger’s side area of the cab.

Ray was transported by Askewville EMS to Bertie Memorial Hospital. The extent of his injuries are not known.

Askewville firemen also responded to the accident.

Ronald Terry, a supervisor with the NCDOT Bridge Maintenance office in Ahoskie, said a crew was dispatched Tuesday night to the accident scene.

“They were able to put up temporary rails on the bridge and then returned Wednesday morning to fully repair the damage,” Terry said.

Terry added that the bridge, built in 1952, was on a list to replace in the near future.