Local killed in ATV accident

On July 9, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person on Rabbit Hop Road. The report, which was directed to Mitchell County Communications, stated that 57-year-old Keith Scott Buchanan may have been missing since Thursday, July 4, along with his ATV. Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office investigators called the family member who reported Buchanan’s absence. They said they spoke with a neighbor who had not seen Buchanan or his ATV since Thursday, the 4th. Investigators requested assistance from the Mitchell County Emergency Management Agency and the Fire Department with a wooded search. Investigators also requested that Mitchell Emergency Management Agency request a “ping” of Buchanan’s cell phone to get a general location to begin the search. Sheriff’s Office investigators also requested that Mitchell Emergency Management Agency request NC State Emergency Management Agency to conduct a “forensic PING” of Buchanan’s cell phone. The first PING from Buchanan’s phone located the phone somewhere near the Hoot Owl Mine within a 2,000-yard zone. Mitchell officials, community members and volunteer firefighters began a ground search of the large area and trails indicated by the PING. After several hours of searching by ATV and on foot, the forensic ping determined Buchanan’s phone was located somewhere near the normal ATV trails behind Buchanan’s home. Mitchell County investigators and volunteer firefighters began a search of the trail system behind Buchanan’s home. Mitchell Sheriff’s Office investigators subsequently located an overturned ATV matching the description of Buchanan’s ATV off the trail in tall grass and weeds. Buchanan was found along with the ATV, apparently killed in an ATV accident.

According to the Mitchell Sheriff’s Office, while the search was not successful, it brought closure to the family thanks to the combined efforts of community members, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, Mitchell County Emergency Management, Mitchell County Communications, Spruce Pine Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina Emergency Management, and Mitchell Medics. These agencies and community members provided manpower, equipment, and expertise, all of which contributed to a successful outcome to this situation.

(Photo courtesy of Facebook post)