According to a Georgia State Patrol incident report, On June 8th, 2021, at 2:15 PM, Trooper was stopped on the northbound I-75 exit ramp 320 at SR-136 in Gordon County. Trooper Cochran observed a 2001 Honda JH2 motorcycle without the LED light on the front of the vehicle on. Trooper Cochran reported, “The motorcyclist, who was later positively identified as Eric Lamar Jones, 37, of Dalton, by his suspended driver’s license picture and Gordon County Jail booking photos, failed to stop after [I] had activated my emergency blue lights and siren. [I] advised by dispatch that the rider was failing to stop and had initiated a vehicle pursuit. [I] also advised Gordon County 911 of the pursuit in case they had any law enforcement in the area to assist. As the vehicle continued westbound on SR 136, the motorcycle reached speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour several times.” While negotiating some of the curves, the motorcyclist would travel into the eastbound lanes putting himself and the eastbound motorist at risk of a serious crash. The pursuit went into Walker County, where Trooper Cochran was able to get in front of the motorcycle and attempt to slow it down. Jones made a U-turn and headed back towards Gordon County. As the pursuit approached the intersection of SR-136 and SR-136 Connector, Gordon County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Garcia joined. Jones continued traveling eastbound in the westbound lane. Trooper Cochran passed him, moving his patrol car in front of him to box the vehicle in and slow him down while Sgt. Garcia was behind him. Jones then struck the rear of the trooper’s patrol car. According to the report, “After impact, the motorcycle left the north side of the roadway where it came to a final, uncontrolled rest in the ditch. Mr. Jones was thrown from the motorcycle and came to a final rest in the center of the roadway.” Jones was seriously injured in the crash and was transported by Life Force to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN. Gordon County deputies and GSP troopers located trafficking amount of meth and marijuana as well as digital scales in the backpack. The tag was found to be stolen as well. On July 24th, 2023, Jones was arrested on the warrants related to the pursuit and booked into the Gordon County Jail, charged with failure to use correct signal, wrong class of license, driving the wrong side of the roadway, driving while license suspended, drug-related objects, failure to stop for a stop sign, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, felony fleeing/attempting to elude officer, following too closely, distribute marijuana, operating motorcycle without insurance, felony probation violation original charge: possession of meth with intent to distribute, reckless driving, speeding, trafficking meth, driving on wrong side of road, DUI, headlights removing or affixing license plate w/ intent to conceal, and theft by receiving stolen property.
Dalton motorcyclist crashes into the rear of trooper’s patrol vehicle during 120 mph chase in Gordon County
