Armuchee Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash on Martha Berry Highway

Floyd County-The Georgia State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash on Martha Berry Highway at Dugger Drive that claimed the life of an Armuchee man Wednesday afternoon, according to the Rome News Tribune.

James David Cochran, 41, was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 3:52 p.m., according to Floyd County Coroner Gene Procter.

“It looks like a vehicle pulled out in front of him,” Procter said. “And he’s been taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for an autopsy.”

According to a preliminary report from the GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team, a silver Toyota RAV4 was stopped at the intersection as Cochran’s green Kawasaki 650 motorcycle traveled north on Martha Berry Highway in the left lane. The RAV4 turned left onto the highway directly into the path of the motorcycle, causing Cochran to strike the left front fender of the SUV.

The impact threw Cochran over the RAV4 and onto the roadway, where he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

This tragedy comes just a month after another fatal motorcycle crash in the area. On Oct. 9, 15-year-old Elijah Andrew Espy, an Armuchee high school student, died in Chattooga County after his motorcycle struck a vehicle that had pulled into a driveway in front of him.

Authorities are urging all drivers to exercise caution on local roads, especially around intersections and areas with high motorcycle traffic.