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Video Shows Moment Police Officer Kills Biker By Ramming Him Off The Road

Video Shows Moment Police Officer Kills Biker By Ramming Him Off The Road

Deputy James Vansant has been suspended after the incident.

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay

An American police officer has been suspended following an incident where a motorcyclist died.

The officer 'rammed' the biker twice, which eventually sent him into a collision.

Footage released on the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office South Carolina's YouTube channel shows the pursuit of Robert Lee Clark, Jr by Deputy James Vansant.


Credit: YouTube/Berkeley County Sheriff's Office South Carolina

The dashcam caught the pursuit, which reached speeds of up 111mph. Vansant claims that he was keeping an eye out for speeding drivers when he saw Clark's motorcycle 'doing 66mph in a 45mph zone'.

He then pursued 30-year-old Clark for eight miles.

The sheriff's office has claimed that Clark died because the bike was in the wrong gear, according to RT.

They added that the collision was not deliberate, and that you can see Clark braking prior to the incident. He was not wearing a helmet when he crashed.

In a statement, they said: "A deputy with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office was on patrol in the area of the Ace Hardware on College Park Road when the deputy observed a motorcycle travelling towards Crowfield Blvd. from the direction of I-26. The motorcycle was travelling approx. 66 MPH in the posted 45 MPH zone. When the deputy activated the emergency lighting in order to stop the motorcycle, the motorcycle sped up and refused to stop.

"The traffic was light and conditions clear as the deputy attempted to get the motorcyclist to stop. Speeds reached up to 111 MPH at times with the motorcyclist slamming on the brakes and then speeding away several times. The pursuit continued up College Park Road, left onto Highway 17-A and continued on until West 1st Street in Summerville. The pursuit covered approx. 7 ¾ miles from start to finish over a 5 ½ minute time period."


Credit: Facebook

They continued: "At the end of the pursuit, the motorcyclist applied the brakes sharply and the motorcycle slowed rapidly and then swerved to the right in an apparent attempt to go around a vehicle on the right side of the through lane that had yielded for the blue lights.

"When the motorcyclist attempted to accelerate away the operator appears to have missed a gear while the motorcycle continued to slow causing contact between the motorcycle and the front right corner of the deputy's Ford Interceptor Utility. The motorcyclist then lost control and struck the curb between the vehicle that had yielded and the sidewalk.

"The South Carolina Highway Patrol responded and is investigating the crash."

A rally is now being organised against the actions of Deputy Vansant - "to demand his arrest and that he be charged with murder" - under the banner of "Justice for Robert Lee Clark Jr."

The organisers wrote: "Please do understand that we do not agree with or condone his actions to flee the police.

"However, we do believe Deputy James Vansant used excessive force to bring the chase to an end by hitting Mr Clark in the rear of his motorcycle."

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Berkeley County Sheriff's Office South Carolina

Topics: Death, Dead