Motorcyclist killed after leaving roadway, hitting tree

A Cherokee County man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle swerved to miss a vehicle and left the roadway north of Waleska, according to the sheriff’s office.

Joseph Dillon Howell, 23, of Waleska, died at the scene of the 2 p.m. wreck on Ga. 140, near Little Refuge Road, Lt. Jay Baker said.

Witnesses told investigators that Howell was traveling at a high rate of speed after passing several cars and swerved to miss a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction before he ran off the roadway, Baker said.