A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the life of 45-year-old Mark Edward Johns of Brunswick, Georgia, on July 3, 2024, after a high-speed pursuit with Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
According to a GSP incident report, the crash occurred around 7:56 a.m. on State Route 23 in Brantley County. A trooper observed a blue motorcycle traveling at 71 mph in a 55 mph zone and attempted a traffic stop. Officials say the motorcycle, later identified as being driven by Johns, fled at a high rate of speed.
Troopers reported that Johns drove aggressively, weaving through traffic and running a red light at the intersection of State Route 23 and State Route 520 as he attempted to evade arrest.
The pursuit came to a devastating end near the Nahunta Post Office. As Johns attempted to pass a Ford F-150 pickup truck, his helmet struck the vehicle’s mirror, causing him to lose control. The motorcycle veered off the roadway, struck a ditch drain, became airborne, and collided with a tree. Johns was thrown from the motorcycle across Burton Street into a barrier, suffering fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:58 a.m. by the Brantley County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities said the impact was catastrophic, and the scene was quickly secured by first responders. The Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) has taken over the investigation.
Family and close friends were notified shortly after the accident. Johns, who lived in Brunswick, had no surviving parents. His ex-wife, Sharon Johns, and longtime friend Tyler Johns were identified as his closest next of kin.
The crash remains under investigation, and a toxicology report is pending from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.
This fatal accident has left the Brunswick community shaken, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of high-speed pursuits.
