Biker Dies in Police Pursuit Crash

File photoPhoto byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

A motorcycle pursuit in Northeast Georgia turned deadly when the fleeing biker crashed into a vehicle and died, Athens police said in a news release. The collision happened around 5:48 p.m. Thursday, August 29, on Lexington Road near Southeast Clarke Park.

Athens-Clarke County police say the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office pursued the motorcycle into Clarke County. Athens police were not involved in the pursuit, according to ACCPD Public Information Officer Lt. Jody Thompson.

"As the motorcycle approached the intersection of Lexington Road and Woodgrove Drive, it struck a vehicle. The driver of the motorcycle did not survive the collision," Thompson says.

According to the Georgia State Patrol's preliminary investigation, the Honda CBR600 was traveling west on GA 10/Lexington Road at a high rate of speed as an eastbound Honda Pilot was turning left onto Woodgrove Drive.

The motorcycle struck the Pilot on the passenger side. The male biker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have not released the name of the motorcyclist killed in the crash, and it remains unclear what prompted the pursuit.

In response to questions from Now Habersham, Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel says the deputy had terminated the chase at the time of the accident.

"The individual was looking back at the officer when he turned his lights and siren and apparently didn't see the car turning in front of him until it was too late," says Gabriel.

Troopers from State Patrol Post 32 in Athens and GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) are investigating the crash.

This is the seventh fatal wreck in Athens-Clarke County in 2024.