CHOCOWINITY — An elderly man was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville after a collision on N.C. Highway 33 in Chocowinity on Monday night.

The man was travelling west on N.C. 33 when a Ford passenger vehicle traveling the same direction hit the motorized wheelchair he was operating, according to N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Connor Wilson. Wilson said he was not authorized to release the man’s name.

The accident happened at approximately 8 p.m. near the Food Pride grocery store just outside of Chocowinity. Wilson said the man in the wheelchair was traveling along the outer edge of the roadway, but was not wearing reflective gear nor carrying any type of safety lighting that may have further alerted drivers to his presence on the road.

Wilson said pedestrians, cyclists and others should take precautions when using the road. He advised those walking to stay off the roadway and travel on the right side of the ditch lining roads, if at all possible.

“I would say to have reflective gear … if at all possible, go against traffic, so you can watch for traffic,” Wilson said.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing. Wilson was not aware of the hospitalized man’s condition.