Suspect identified in late night illegal street race on Atlanta Highway in Athens

What Athens-Clarke police called an illegal street race on the Atlanta Freeway turned into a police pursuit involving officers in at least three other counties.

The late-night westbound pursuit began around 2:30 a.m. Sept. 20 on the Atlanta Freeway just west of Georgia Square, according to the report, which was not released until this week.

The officer monitoring traffic reported seeing a 2023 Acura TLX and a 2024 Hyundai Venue involved in an illegal street race.

The officer reported following the vehicles, which proceeded to Dozer Drive, then Orkin Drive, where they reached U.S. Highway 78 and Oconee County. The officer reported speeds reached 180 mph and the vehicles were still traveling the distance.

A supervisor told the officer to end the pursuit, which he did. However, sheriff’s offices in Oconee, Walton and Barrow counties have all been notified that they must monitor vehicles.

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A FLOCK camera detected the Hyundai’s tag number, indicating it was registered to an Athens resident. The driver has not been positively identified, police reported Thursday.

Barrow County sheriff’s deputies spotted the Acura fleeing officers, but were able to stop it inside Gwinnett County.

The 20-year-old driver from Alpharetta is charged with multiple violations in Barrow County, while Athens-Clarke police said they will issue an arrest warrant for the man on 10 violation charges, including racing and felony evading.

“Street racing is extremely dangerous and puts everyone on the road at risk, even those not involved,” said Police Lt. Katie Jenkins. “This reckless behavior can change lives in the blink of an eye. Our officers are focused on keeping our roads safe and we take this matter very seriously.”

This article first appeared in the Athens Banner-Herald: One arrested, another escaped during car race on Atlanta Highway in Athens