A high-speed motorcycle chase across two metro Atlanta counties ended Monday with the rider crashing into a state trooper’s patrol car and then a roadside railing on I-20. The motorcyclist was airlifted to a local hospital and remained in stable condition, according to state troopers. The pursuit began after authorities say the rider was weaving through traffic at an excessive speed.
According to CBS Atlanta, Georgia State Patrol’s Crime Suppression Unit tried to stop the motorcyclist around 3:46 p.m. Monday after observing the rider dangerously splitting lanes in DeKalb County. The rider allegedly failed to stop, leading troopers into Rockdale County. During the pursuit, the motorcycle struck the passenger-side trunk or quarter panel of a patrol car, causing the rider to lose control and hit the side railing.
I-20 Chase Adds To A Rough Summer For Metro Atlanta Roads
The Georgia Department of Public Safety says its metro Atlanta Motorcycle Unit focuses on speeding, improper lane changes, aggressive driving and other interstate violations. The department says the unit’s broader goal is to improve speed compliance and reduce crashes on the region’s highways, according to its official mission page.
The latest crash also follows a July 21 pursuit on I-20 involving Conyers police and suspects tied to hotel vehicle break-ins. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the chase ended when an officer used a PIT maneuver, with two suspects arrested and another fleeing the scene.
In May, a separate Georgia State Patrol pursuit that began on I-20 in Fulton County ended in a fatal crash at a gas station, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said. The agency reported that a fleeing driver lost control after traveling at high speed, killing a bystander and seriously injuring three other people, including the driver.
Rider’s Identity And Potential Charges Remain Unclear
The initial account did not identify the rider or say whether criminal charges had been filed. Troopers provided medical attention after the crash, and emergency crews transported the motorcyclist by air to a local hospital, where the rider was reported stable by CBS Atlanta.
The incident comes only weeks after Hoodline covered a fatal I-20 biker crash near McDaniel Street in Atlanta. In that case, police said a speeding motorcyclist lost control while passing vehicles, a reminder that on metro Atlanta’s interstates, a few seconds of reckless riding can turn into a life-threatening wreck.
