An accident that occurred on June 1 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Woolwine, Virginia, resulted in the death of a motorcyclist from North Carolina. According to the National Park Service, the accident occurred nearly two weeks after the collision.
Near Milepost 162, which is approximately 52 miles northeast on the parkway from the North Carolina border and 206 miles or 3.5 hours driving distance from Asheville, the motorcyclist was driving north on the parkway when he collided with a deer that was crossing the rider’s lane of traffic. The accident occurred at approximately 11:59 a.m. on June 1. During the incident, the driver, who has been identified as Edward Zigata, 60, from Shallotte, was ejected and sustained serious injuries, according to a news release issued by the park service on June 16.
It was Floyd County, Virginia Fire and EMS that responded to the crash, along with law enforcement rangers from the National Park Service. The press release stated that Zigata was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital via helicopter ambulance. Recently, park officials were informed that Zigata passed away on June 14, 2025, as a result of the injuries he sustained.
According to the National Park Service, there are currently no additional details available. Leesa Brandon, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, stated to the Citizen Times that rangers are currently conducting an investigation into the crash.
Through the year 2024, the parkway is expected to attract more than 16.7 million visitors, making it one of the most visited units of the National Park Service. Following the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Helene on Western North Carolina in late September, significant portions of the state’s roadways continue to be closed due to the extensive damage that was caused. The arrival of summer is rapidly approaching, and it is anticipated that more areas will become accessible for travel and recreation during the summer and into the fall.
The Citizen Times reported that on April 18 of this year, a hiker named Jie Huang, who was 40 years old and from Plymouth, North Carolina, passed away after falling into waters along the parkway. In the vicinity of Price Lake at Milepost 297, which is approximately 85 miles northeast of Asheville, Huang was hiking along the Boone Fork Trail when he accidently fell into waters that were adjacent to the trail.
With a length of 469 miles, the parkway completely spans the border between North Carolina and Virginia. The Citizen Times had previously inquired about the total number of fatalities that have occurred along the parkway in 2025, but they had not received a response prior to the time of publication.
