Update: A Hall County man died Saturday during what the Georgia State Patrol says was street racing, and a Philadelphia man faces murder charges as a result.
Rhyan Coley Davis, 37 of Gainesville, died of injuries from a wreck north of Helen during the pursuit, which started on Ga. 348 (Richard Russell Scenic Hwy.) in Union County.
23-year-old Qayyim Yah Yah Ali of Philadelphia, Pa., faces a total of 32 charges, including felony murder and homicide by vehicle, says Sgt. Bronson Taylor of GSP Post 27 Blue Ridge.
Saturday’s vehicle pursuit ended in a head-on crash on Ga. 17 north of Helen. The fleeing silver Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Davis turned north (left) on Ga. 17/75 in Robertstown. As the vehicle attempted to negotiate a curve to the right at a very high rate of speed, it crossed the centerline and struck a Nissan Murano SUV, head-on.
James M. Richardson, 65, of Colbert, was driving the Murano. Richardson was seriously injured but is listed in stable condition.
Davis died of his injuries.
Ali was placed under arrest in downtown Helen after he crashed within the city limits, Taylor said.
Ali is being held in the Union County Jail without bond on the following charges:
White County
1. Felony murder
2. Homicide by vehicle (first degree)
3. Felony fleeing and attempting to Elude 20 mph over speed limit
4. Felony fleeing and attempting to elude/fleeing in conditions placing the public in danger of serious injury or death
5. Serious injury by vehicle
6. DUI
7. Street racing
8. Reckless stunt driving
9. Reckless driving
10. Passing in a no-passing zone
11. Failure to stop at stop sign
12. Aggressive driving
13. Driving on the wrong side of the roadway
14. Speeding 80+ mph in a 35-mph zone (Ga. 348) and 100+ mph in a 45-mph zone (Ga. 75 Alternate)
15. Failure to maintain lane
16. Passing vehicles approaching opposite direction
17. Failure to yield to emergency vehicle
Union County
1. Failure to yield to emergency vehicle
2. Improper tag display
3. Expired tag
4. Window tint
5. Improper lane change
6. Obtain Georgia license w/n 30 days
7. Passing in a no-passing zone
8. Street racing
9. DUI
10. Failure to maintain lane
11. Aggressive driving
12. Speeding (Checked at 72 mph in a 45-mph zone; Estimated speed of 100+)
13. Reckless driving
14. Reckless stunt driving
15. Fleeing and attempting to elude 20 mph over speed limit (felony)
Original Story posted Sunday, April 24: One driver died and another was arrested after allegedly fleeing from a Georgia state trooper in Union and White counties Saturday morning.
Trooper 1st Class Matheson from GSP Post 27 Blue Ridge was patrolling the Blood Mountain and Richard Russell Scenic Bypass area when he attempted to pull over two cars that were speeding on Ga. 348 (Richard Russell Scenic) near Lone Piper Road in Union County.
As Matheson attempted to catch up to the two vehicles with his emergency lights and sirens activated, both vehicles failed to stop resulting in a pursuit, says Sgt. B.D. Taylor of Post 27. The vehicles that were fleeing, a silver 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer and a black 2015 Dodge Challenger, continued fleeing southeast on Ga. 348 into White County.
When the vehicles reached Ga. 75 Alternate, both vehicles turned northbound, Taylor said.
At the intersection of Ga. 75 Alternate and Ga. 17, the black Dodge Challenger turned south (right) and the silver Mitsubishi Lancer turned north (left).
Matheson continued pursuing the Mitsubishi Lancer northbound on State Route 17.
As the vehicle attempted to negotiate a curve to the right at a very high rate of speed, it crossed the centerline and struck a Nissan Murano SUV head-on, Taylor said.
The fleeing Mitsubishi came to a final rest over the guardrail at the bottom of the embankment.
After coming to rest in the road, the Murano was lightly struck in the passenger side door area by a third vehicle.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle succumbed to his injuries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Taylor said.
The driver of the Murano received serious injuries and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center as a result of being struck by the fleeing car, Taylor said.
The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was requested to assist in the investigation.
The wreck happened shortly after 11 a.m.
While GSP was on the scene of the crash between the Mitsubishi and Nissan, Helen Police Department notified GSP that the black Dodge Challenger had crashed inside the city. Matheson took charges on that individual.
Names of all involved are being withheld at this time due to the ongoing investigation, Taylor says. Notification of family is pending.
More details will be released later.
