PORTERDALE, Ga. — Around 3:30 p.m. on July 4, The Covington News learned of a three-vehicle collision in Porterdale. The collision happened at the red light coming off Crowell Road.

A July 6 incident report provided to The News by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office identified the two victims: Kerry Strawder, a 56-year old African American male of Stonecrest, Georgia; Anthony Avery, a 55-year old African American of Covington. 

The suspect’s information was withheld. 

John Redlinger was the responding officer. 

According to the incident report, the chase began when a stolen vehicle — a 2017 BMW SUV —  hit a Flock camera south on Crowell Road at Harold Dobbs. Redlinger located the SUV in the parking lot of a gas station at Brown Bridge and Crowell roads. 

Redlinger then followed the vehicle east onto Brown Bridge then south on Crowell and turned on the blue lights and siren. The vehicle refused to stop and continued south on Crowell Road. 

Redlinger was in pursuit of the vehicle at approximately 100 miles per hour for two miles. Then, the SUV ran the red light south on Crowell Road at Highway 81 in Porterdale. 

The SUV struck Avery’s car first in the driver’s side, which was east on Highway 81 and then struck Strawder’s vehicle head on, which was stopped at the light north on the bypass at Highway 81. 

Upon the collision, the driver of the stolen vehicle attempted to exit the car through the driver’s side rear door. When Redlinger tried to secure the driver, the individual fell back into the vehicle to release Redlinger’s hold on his clothes causing the door to slam on Redlinger’s left hand. The driver attempted once more to exit through the same door with Redlinger’s second attempt to restrain the individual. However, the driver proceeded to exit the opposite side of the vehicle and fled on foot north on Crowell Road. 

The driver is described as a 6-foot, black male wearing a cream colored sweatshirt with hoodie and creamed colored shorts with an ankle monitor on his left ankle.

An earlier statement was sent to The Covington News from NCSO’s communications officer Caitlin Jett. It highlighted that the Georgia State Patrol is handling the investigation. 

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is made available.