North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) troopers, Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and local emergency medical service personnel responded to reports of a severe motor vehicle collision on westbound Interstate 40 near Exit 119, near Hildebran, at approximately 6:46 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026. According to preliminary state police reports, a 2014 Ford passenger car operated by 37-year-old Graham Anthony Patterson of Morganton was traveling westbound when the vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a 2026 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Childers. The impact caused Childers to lose control of the motorcycle, leading to an ejection into a roadside guardrail. First responders arrived to render emergency aid, but Childers succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Law Enforcement Investigation and Criminal Charges
North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers executed a physical evidence examination and scene investigation following the crash. Highway Patrol officials confirmed that speed and driver impairment were not considered contributing factors in the collision. Investigating troopers charged Patterson with failing to maintain lane control, operating a vehicle with no operator’s license, and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Official vital statistics registrations and coroner records are being processed under the jurisdiction of the Burke County Medical Examiner’s Office and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Tributes and Memorial Services
News of Childers’ sudden death has brought deep sorrow to family members, friends, and fellow motorcycle enthusiasts across Catawba and Burke counties. Loved ones remembered the 59-year-old Newton resident for his ties to the local community. Formal announcements regarding public visitation, chapel funeral services, and memorial arrangements will be published by authorized family representatives and handling funer
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