One person was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Alexander County yesterday (August 28). The deceased is 43-year-old Michael Franklin Rockette of Taylorsville.

At about 7:20 p.m. Monday, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the accident, which occurred on Rink Dam Road near Sam Poole Lane. An eastbound 2004 Nissan Frontier driven by Mr. Rockette ran off the right side of Rink Dam Road, went down an embankment, overturned, and came to rest on the passenger side.

Mr. Rockette passed away at the scene. He was not restrained by a seatbelt. The Highway Patrol’s initial investigation indicates impairment to be the contributing circumstance in the collision.

During the on-scene investigation, Rink Dam Road was closed in the area for an hour.