By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Town of Tryon has received a range of quotes to repair damage at Harmon Field caused by a wreck during the Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival that range from $25,000 to almost $100,000, according to town manager Joey Davis.

Davis said on Thursday, June 30 that the quotes are to replace the tennis courts with a newer version of the court than is there now, replacing the fence, replacing the damaged soccer goal and replacing a destroyed radar sign. Those estimates depend on whether the court can be repaired or if it must be completely replaced.

Davis said the town’s concern with the tennis courts is consistency with not only the color matching but the quality as well.

The current flex courts are five years old.

Davis said the decision to repair or replace the courts completely will be a decision that will have to be made between the town’s insurance company and the company that installed the courts. Davis also said the town’s insurance adjuster visited Harmon Field on Tuesday, June 28 and the insurance company is currently having conversations with multiple parties.

“While we don’t have an actual date this will be resolved they are aware of our desire to expedite the process so that the courts can be reopened as soon as possible,” said Davis.

The tennis courts have been closed to the public since the crash occurred during the afternoon of Friday, June 10, the first day of the Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival.

A truck leaving the festival crashed through the fencing and tennis courts as well as a soccer goal and the town’s radar along Harmon Field Road.

The 2004 Dodge truck was driven by Tuan Quoc Trinh, of Charlotte, who was charged by the N.C. Highway Patrol with driving while impaired and careless and reckless driving.

Trinh struck a golf cart driven by a festival volunteer before crashing through the tennis courts. Both Trinh and the golf cart driver were taken to the hospital for evaluation.

The fencing and courts 1 and 2 were severely damaged with large sections of the flex court surface on those courts destroyed. Benches at the courts and netting were also destroyed.