The Conover community is mourning the death of Floyd Augustus Beal Jr., who was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday morning, September 19, 2026, in Catawba County, North Carolina.
According to the supplied account, the fatal collision occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on Springs Road near N.C. Highway 16. Beal was riding a motorcycle when it was struck by a vehicle driven by a Conover woman.
The crash resulted in Beal’s death and led to an investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Floyd Augustus Beal Jr. Dies in Catawba County Motorcycle Crash
The collision happened on Springs Road near the intersection with N.C. Highway 16.
Reports based on court records and information attributed to the North Carolina Highway Patrol state that Beal was operating a motorcycle when the crash occurred.
The circumstances described in the available account indicate that the other vehicle was making a left turn when the motorcycle was struck.
Authorities subsequently investigated the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Floyd Augustus Beal Jr. Crash Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Floyd Augustus Beal Jr. |
| Reported age | 64 |
| Location | Conover, Catawba County, North Carolina |
| Date of crash | September 19, 2026 |
| Time | Shortly after 11 a.m. |
| Road | Springs Road near N.C. Highway 16 |
| Vehicle | Motorcycle |
| Other driver | Elaine Wallace Knight, 74 |
| Reported circumstance | Motorcycle struck by vehicle during a left turn |
| Outcome | Beal died in the crash |
| Investigating agency | North Carolina Highway Patrol |
| Reported charges | Felony hit-and-run resulting in death, death by vehicle, reckless driving to endanger and failure to yield left turn |
The reported age of 64 comes from the supplied account and has not been independently confirmed here.
Driver Arrested Following Fatal Collision
Reports state that Elaine Wallace Knight, 74, of Conover, was arrested following the crash.
According to the reported court information, authorities allege that Knight failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn before the collision.
The reports further state that she left the scene after the crash and was later taken into custody.
Knight was reportedly charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death, death by vehicle, reckless driving to endanger and failure to yield left turn.
She was released on a $28,000 secured bond and was scheduled to appear in Catawba County District Court on September 21.
The allegations are matters for the court, and a charge does not establish guilt.
Investigation Into Springs Road Crash
The North Carolina Highway Patrol is identified as the investigating agency in the available account.
The circumstances of the collision remain subject to the investigation and court process.
The latest information supplied for this report also indicates that the Highway Patrol had not yet issued its own formal public release on the crash.
As additional official information becomes available, details concerning the collision and investigation may be clarified.
Family and Friends Mourn Floyd Beal
For Floyd Augustus Beal Jr.’s family and friends, the crash represents a sudden and painful loss.
A fatal motorcycle collision can leave loved ones facing grief while also trying to understand the circumstances that led to the death.
Those who knew Beal will have their own memories of his life, relationships and experiences in the Conover community.
Those personal memories will remain separate from the legal and investigative questions surrounding the crash.
Funeral Arrangements Not Yet Confirmed
Funeral and memorial arrangements for Floyd Augustus Beal Jr. were not independently confirmed in the information supplied for this article.
No confirmed details regarding visitation, funeral services, burial or memorial arrangements are currently available.
If the family or an authorized funeral provider releases additional information, those details can provide an opportunity for relatives, friends and community members to honor Beal’s life.
Remembering Floyd Augustus Beal Jr.
Floyd Augustus Beal Jr.’s death has left a family and community mourning after a fatal motorcycle crash in Catawba County.
The September 19 collision on Springs Road near N.C. Highway 16 has also resulted in an ongoing investigation and criminal charges against the other driver.
As authorities continue addressing the circumstances of the crash, Beal’s family and friends are left to remember the life he lived and the relationships he built.
Disclaimer
This article is based on supplied reporting concerning the September 19, 2026, motorcycle crash that killed Floyd Augustus Beal Jr. Some details, including his reported age and the circumstances leading to the collision, have not been independently verified in this article. The charges against Elaine Wallace Knight are allegations and do not constitute a finding of guilt. Funeral and memorial arrangements were not confirmed in the information available. Further details may be updated if released by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, court records, the family or another reliable source.