The Georgia State Patrol has identified the driver injured Friday night during a pursuit by Habersham County deputies as Mason Tench of Demorest.
The 30-year-old Tench was seriously injured when he wrecked the CRF 450X dirt bike he was driving.
Troopers were called to investigate the crash in the Fairview community west of Clarkesville around 9:35 p.m. on December 15. Their preliminary report states that Tench was traveling north on Shook Road evading deputies when he wrecked.
The front wheel of the bike struck a log that was partially in the roadway and rolled several times.
Authorities suspected Tench was driving under the influence. The state patrol charged him with DUI.
Trespassing complaint
The incident began when a 911 caller complained that a dirt bike was trespassing and making loud noise in the area of Wheeler and Garrett Roads.
“When the deputy identified himself to the motorcyclist at the intersection and asked him to pull over, the motorcyclist pulled away, turning onto Shook Road,” says Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore.
Moore describes Shook as a “leaf-slickened dirt road” that runs between Garrett and Wheeler roads. He says the deputy was navigating a large mud hole when Tench, who was out ahead of him, crashed.
Habersham County EMS transported Tench to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville for treatment.
Troopers from Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa and GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) investigated the crash.
