LUMBERTON — A 22-year-old Lumberton man who was killed while riding his motorcyle on Sunday recently went on Facebook to explain to his “loved ones” why he enjoyed riding his motorcycle even though they had worried about his safety.
Tevin Lamon Thompson, of 17 Blueberry Circle, Lumberton, was killed when his 2017 Kawasaki motorcycle hit a pickup truck broadside. The driver of the truck has been charged with causing the accident.
Thompson’s Facebook page is flush with photos of him on his motorcyle and tributes to him.
On Oct. 18, he wrote this: “I’m sorry for making you worry every time I climb onto my bike. For you worry this could be my last. I want you to know that if that is the case, I’m sorry I left on such short notice. Please know that was never my intention. You may sometimes ask why I would risk my life ‘just for a ride’? To some people, no answer will be good enough. Others may say things like, ‘he’s careless, selfish or he only wants to go fast’! And for the rest of you that are undecided, please take a minute to read on.
“’A ride’ is our freedom away from a world turning evil, a nagging boy/girlfriend, a child that’s on our last nerve. ‘A ride’could have helped you stay another day at a job. ‘A ride’ could have saved an argument, or kept a husband from saying something he regrets or a wife from burning the house down. ‘A ride’ could be the only time a mom, dad, wife, husband, grandma, grandpa, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, friend, daughter or brother has during a day to catch his or her breath, to re-energize, to pray for strength to continue on with all the ‘job titles’ a mother or father has in a day! Last but not least. I love it and everything about it. I love the long roads with the beautiful views! I love the excitement I feel every time I twist the throttle. I love the gas station conversations. I love the out of the blue races. I love the family that’s within the biker community. I just love the ride!”
Thompson, a graduate of Purnell Swett High School, worked with the state Department of Transportation.
Jamie Burney taught him in high school. He posted this on Facebook: “Tevin Thompson was a heck of a guy and a terrific student. He will most definitely be missed. Prayers for his family and friends. He was the kind of student all teachers loved. A sad day indeed.”
Burney said Thompson was very active helping others in the days following Hurricane Florence.
Ricky Locklear, 50, of Bollinger Avenue, is charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to yield the right of way in Thompson’s death.
According to a report by Trooper D.B. Strickland, Locklear, who was alone in a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck, was traveling north on Norment Road at 1:21 p.m. about three miles west of Lumberton when he was attempting to turn into a private driveway and traveled into the path of Thompson, who was driving his motorcycle.
The motorcycle hit the pickup truck on the front right side, throwing Thompson, who was wearing a helmet, from the vehicle. He died at the scene.
Damage to the truck was estimated at $8,000 and the motorcycle was destroyed, according to the report.
