THOMSON --- A 26-year-old Columbia County motorcyclist was critically injured Sunday afternoon when the driver of a pickup pulled into his path on a rural road in McDuffie County, authorities said.

Trooper Willie Ramsey of the Georgia State Patrol post in Thomson identified the injured man as Quentin Martin, of Harlem. He was taken by helicopter to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was in critical condition with head and internal injuries, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Mr. Martin could face drug charges, police said. A large plastic bag containing smaller bags of what is believed to be marijuana was found on Mr. Martin, Trooper Ramsey said.

The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in the 600 block of Boneville Road. Matthew Isaiah James, of the 1200 block of Ponderosa Drive, Thomson, was preparing to make a left turn into the driveway of a friend's home, according to police. Mr. Martin's Honda 600 motorcycle struck the right side of the Ford F-150, left the road and flipped several times before slamming into a utility pole.

Mr. James was charged with failure to yield right of way and driving with defective tires, Trooper Ramsey said. Charges also are pending against Mr. Martin, he said.