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Local pastor dies after motorcycle accident
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Fellow motorcycle riders escort the late Frankie W. Hodges, pastor of Goshen Road Baptist Church and a member of the Sons of Liberty and Patriot Guard, to his final resting place Friday. - photo by Photo by Calli Arnold

North Carolina Highway Patrol officials are close to finishing their investigation into a fatal motorcycle wreck last week that claimed the life of an Effingham County minister.

Frankie W. Hodges, 62, died after injuries he received when his motorcycle ran off the road in the western North Carolina mountains on the evening of April 18. Hodges and others were riding south on North Carolina Highway 175. According to Trooper Hal Robertson, Hodges lost control of his motorcycle and ran off the road. He traveled down an embankment and struck a tree. The motorcycle came to rest on its left side. The accident occurred around 9 p.m. that night.

According to reports, Hodges initially was taken to Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee before being airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

For the complete story, see Tuesday's edition of the Effingham Herald.