ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Robert Franklin Owen III, 49, has passed away after an interstate motorcycle accident earlier this month left the rider seriously injured.
According to the preliminary APD investigation, Owen was traveling on a 2005 Honda motorcycle along I-40 West when he left the roadway, struck a guardrail and was thrown from the bike. APD officers arrived around 3:28 p.m., July 6, to the scene of the crash, located near the 49-mile marker of I-40 West. Owen had sustained serious injuries and was taken to Mission Hospital for treatment. The rider passed away on Friday, July 17.
According to an obituary, Owen “lived life to the fullest up until the very end, embracing every moment with vigor and a deep appreciation for the people around him.”
The rider is survived by his partner, Melissa Smith, son, Robert “Robb” Owen IV, step-children, Aria Reyna and JJ Reyna, granddaughter, Callie Owen, step-mother, Renaye Owen, and step-sister, Trina Abee.
Read his full obituary here.
Traffic Safety Unit officers with the Asheville Police Department are currently investigating the crash. Owen’s passing marks the fourth motorcycle fatality in Asheville in 2026.
“If you have any information about this incident, please contact APD at (828) 252-1110,” APD said. “You can also send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.”