Hickory Police investigate fatal traffic crash

Hickory Police investigated a fatal traffic crash on Saturday, May 11, involving two vehicles traveling on North Center Street.

At 4:21 p.m., a white Lexus SUV, driven by Choeum-Mach Chang, 53, of Hickory, was traveling south on North Center Street. The Lexus SUV was attempting to turn left onto 18th Avenue Northeast and was struck by a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by Sean Darrel Vardell, 38, of Taylorsville, NC. The Harley Davidson Motorcycle was traveling north on North Center Street prior to the collision.     

Following the traffic accident, Vardell was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center by Catawba County EMS where he was pronounced deceased.

This crash investigation is ongoing. If anyone witnessed this traffic crash, or has information pertaining to this investigation, please contact Officer J. Watson at 828-328-5551 or email him at jwatson@hickorync.gov.