Dail recovering from crash with motorcyclist

DURHAM -- Sherry Dail is back at her Person County home, recovering from a Monday night accident in northern Durham County in which her car was hit from behind by a motorcyclist being pursued by a Durham County deputy.

Meanwhile, the person that hit her, Arthur Michael Tilley, 46, remains at Duke University Hospital with serious injuries, said Capt. Ricky Buchanan with the sheriff's office.

Deputy Alex Champagne spotted Tilley driving at a high rate of speed on U.S. 501 at about 10:20 p.m. The five minute chase involved a series of U-turns and speeds reaching 110 mph. Tilley crashed into Dail's vehicle near the Little River Reservoir. He was thrown from the motorcycle and was found lying in the median.

Deputies say Tilley, who lives in Roxboro, had a strong odor of alcohol and suffered multiple injuries. Since 1987, Tilley has had DWI and reckless driving convictions in Orange, Wayne, Durham and Person counties.

Dail, a Timberlake resident, is the mother of Megan Dail, a four-year-old girl who was killed by a drunk driver with multiple DWI convictions in 1997.

The sheriff's office said that once Tilley is out of the hospital, he will be charged with driving while impaired, fleeing to elude arrest and speeding.