An Augusta man died and several people were injured in a wreck Saturday involving about 10 motorcycles and a car near the Columbia-McDuffie county line.
The accidents occurred at about 11 a.m. over a quarter-mile stretch on County Line Road between Watson Bailey and Miles roads, Columbia County emergency dispatchers said.
County Deputy Coroner Vernon Collins identified the dead man as Wayne Leroy Malick, 52, of the 800 block of Brookfield Parkway in Augusta. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:45 a.m., Mr. Collins said.
An autopsy is scheduled today because charges might be pending, Mr. Collins said. He would not comment on what those charges might be.
Witnesses said at least 40 motorcyclists - and perhaps as many as 70 from various clubs - had joined the group taking part in a Relay for Life cancer benefit ride that started at Harlem United Methodist Church.
They were traveling north on County Line Road toward Wrightsboro Road, said Robert Mills, a rider from Harlem.
"This is like a damned nightmare," he said. "We were trying to do something good and this happens."
There was a collision between a motorcycle rider, who was one of the first bikes in the group, and a southbound Buick LeSabre. After that collision, witnesses said, the Buick continued along County Line Road and struck another group of oncoming motorcycles, according to police at the scene.
Mr. Malick was involved in that second part of the wreck; two other men involved in that collision were taken by helicopter to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, police said. Many other riders also were taken to hospitals, emergency officials said.
The driver of the LeSabre, a young woman whom police did not immediately identify, was not injured, nor was a toddler riding in the back seat, officers said.
Alan Coleman, a rider from Harlem who was behind the group involved in the second crash, said he came upon a scene of destruction when he cleared a rise.
"By the time we came up, they were piling up, motorcycles everywhere in pieces, boots (scattered)," he said. "It don't add up. We're doing a charity event for cancer, and something like this happens."
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, sheriff's Staff Sgt. Tim Perry said.
When asked for an official statement, Trooper First Class Powell Paul said he was not authorized to give one.
Sgt. Perry Hobbs, who is in charge of the investigation, said Saturday night that authorities were still trying to determine what happened.
Reach J. Scott Trubey at 868-1222, ext. 109, or jeffery.trubey@augustachronicle.com
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back
