Local News
Motorcycle falls apart, rider killed after hit by Mack truck in Cobb
By Ben Brasch
Sept 15, 2016A motorcyclist was killed in Marietta after a malfunction caused him to lose control.
A witness told Cobb County police that the rider was on a white 2006 Suzuku GSX-R1000 heading north on I-75 toward Terrel Mill Road about 1:40 a.m. when a "commercial truck" began to creep into the motorcyclist's lane.
As the motorcyclist tried to get out of the way, the bike's swing arm — a crucial part of the rear suspension — failed either because it had been "improperly repaired or modified," and the rear wheel assembly separated, throwing the rider into the northbound lanes, police said.
A Mack truck driven by a Kingston man hit the rider while he was lying in the roadway.
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The first commercial truck did not stop, and police are looking for the unidentified driver. The second driver did not stop at the scene, but called police upon realizing what had happened.
The motorcyclist died at the scene, but police don't know which of the two incidents killed the rider. The Cobb County Medical Examiner is working to identify the victim.
Police said they don't expect to file any charges.
Anyone with information can contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
