July 7, 2019–12:37 p.m.

GEORGIA STATE PATROL

Authorities say a Cobb County man was killed late Saturday after he crashed a stolen motorcycle while fleeing from Polk County Police.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the Polk County officer lost sight of the motorcycle on Highway 278 near the intersection of Highway 113.

The motorcycle continued on at a high rate of speed.

32-year old Dwayne Johnson of Marietta lost control of the motorcycle in a curve.

It traveled off the road, struck an embankment and several small trees before hitting a large tree.

Johnson was fatally injured.

The investigation continues.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety reports 24 fatalities on the state’s highways during the 102-hour Independence Day holiday travel period.

Seven of those deaths occurred in a multi-vehicle crash on I-85 in Franklin County on Saturday.

Fatal wrecks have also been investigated by the Georgia State Patrol Post 29 in Paulding County, Post 5 in Dalton, Post 19 in Swainsboro, Post 31 in Valdosta, Post 44 in Forsyth, Post 33 in Milledgeville, Post 23 in Brunswick, Post 26 and Post 29 in Thomaston, as well as the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Police, Clayton County PD, and the Savannah Police Department.