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US police release dashcam footage of motorcyclist's death during pursuit

Footage of a police pursuit and crash which ended with a motorbike rider's death has been released by authorities in South Carolina in the US.

The Berkley County Sheriff's Office posted a link to the video on Facebook following the incident last Wednesday in which a 30-year-old rider died.

Authorities said a deputy was on patrol when they spotted a motorcycle travelling approximately 106 kilometres an hour in a zone said to have a limit of 72 kilometres per hour.

According to a statement, it is then alleged that the deputy made an attempt to stop the rider by activating emergency lights, but they refused to pull over and sped up instead.

Authorities allege the motorcyclist slammed on the brakes and sped away a number of times during the incident, and that speeds reached up to approximately 178 kilometres an hour during the pursuit.

Authorities claim
Authorities claim

The county sheriff's office said the pursuit covered about 12 and a half kilometres over around five and a half minutes.

A statement on the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Facebook page states: "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."

Authorities said during the pursuit speeds reached up to 111 miles per hour or up to about 178 kilometres an hour. Source: Berkeley County Sheriff's Office
Authorities said during the pursuit speeds reached up to 111 miles per hour or up to about 178 kilometres an hour. Source: Berkeley County Sheriff's Office

The rider was declared deceased at the scene of the accident.

According to ABC News 4 the deputy involved in the pursuit had attempted to perform CPR on the rider, but could not revive the 30-year-old who was said to be without a helmet.

The incident is being investigated. Source: Berkeley County Sheriff's Office
The incident is being investigated. Source: Berkeley County Sheriff's Office

The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Berkley County Sheriff's Office are investigating the crash.

The deputy who was involved has been placed on administrative leave pending a review of the incident.