An Ellijay man was injured while fleeing law enforcement officials when the motorcycle he was riding struck a Georgia State Patrol car joining the pursuit.
Matthew Larry Gibbs, 39, of Lower Cartecay Road, Ellijay, was traveling east on Hwy. 52 at a high rate of speed fleeing from law enforcement, according to a Georgia State Patrol incident report.
Trooper Randall White was traveling west on Hwy. 52 with his lights and siren activated. He began to make a U-turn to join the pursuit, according to the report.
Gibbs veered into the opposite lane of travel and passed four vehicles, according to the report.
As White was making his turn, Gibbs crossed back to the eastbound lane and struck the right-front of White’s patrol vehicle, according to the report.
Gibbs came off the motorcycle at impact and traveled 130 feet to the tree line, according to the report.
He was taken to Piedmont Hospital. Information was not available about his condition at press time.
Gibbs is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude arrest, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a drug-related object, theft by receiving stolen property and having no tag. Other charges are pending.
The motorcycle Gibbs was riding was reported stolen out of Cherokee County, N.C., according to reports.