Fort Stewart man arrested after 130 mph motorcycle chase across 3 counties, deputies say

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - A Fort Stewart man is facing multiple felony charges after leading deputies on a high-speed motorcycle pursuit through three southeast Georgia counties Saturday night, according to the Long County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were patrolling Ga. Highway 196 near Joe Kennedy Road at about 9:25 p.m. Oct. 3 when a sergeant spotted a black Yamaha MT-07 heading west at a high rate of speed, according to the sheriff’s office.

A corporal farther ahead saw the motorcycle pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone and clocked it at 90 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. When the corporal tried to pull the motorcycle over near Hay Field Road, the driver accelerated and fled, reaching speeds up to 130 mph.

The chase continued into Tattnall County and then turned left onto U.S. Highway 301, with another corporal taking over as the lead unit. The chase ended on Key Howard Road in Long County when the driver, later identified as Victor Tavarez, brought the motorcycle to a stop.

As deputies tried to arrest him, Tavarez tried to flee again and struck a corporal and his patrol vehicle with the motorcycle, authorities said. He lost control after the collision and was taken into custody. The corporal was treated for minor injuries.

Tavarez was charged with:

• Wrong class of driver’s license
• Improper passing on the left
• Reckless driving
• Speeding (2 counts)
• Felony fleeing or attempting to elude
• Felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer
• Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer

He was booked into jail. No court date has been released.