Two killed on 'The Dragon' after car strikes tree, falls 100 feet

USA TODAY Network - Tennessee | Knoxville

Show Caption Hide Caption What's it like to ride 'The Dragon?' A look at the dangerous curves on the most famous motorcycle route in the Southeast.

Two men died on Saturday night after their car left the stretch of U.S. Highway 129 known as "The Dragon," hit a tree and fell 100 feet down an embankment, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol crash report.

Kyle Moroney, 23, of Sevierville, and 19-year-old Tanner Umphrey, of Athens, Tenn., were killed in the crash.

Moroney was driving a 2009 Nissan 370 at mile marker 1.5 in Blount County when he lost control just after 11:15 p.m., according to the report. He over-corrected and struck a tree with the passenger door, and the car fell down the embankment.

More: 'Dragon' crash survivor speaks on near-death experience

Both men were wearing their seat belts, and authorities don't believe alcohol or drugs were involved, according to the report.

The Dragon, also known as "The Tail of the Dragon” or “The Dragon’s Tail,” is a curvy, mountainous 11-mile stretch of road on the Tennessee-North Carolina border with steep drop-offs by the road's edge.