Joseph Harrison, a 22-year-old man, was identified as the motorcyclist who died in Longview on Sept. 2, following a pursuit initiated by Gregg County Sheriff’s units. Harrison fled from law enforcement in the early hours, a chase that ultimately concluded with a collision involving a patrol vehicle from another agency.
The events leading to Harrison’s death began when Gregg County Sheriff’s units attempted to conduct a traffic stop. According to a custodial death report detailing the incident, sheriff's deputies observed Harrison traveling at an excessive speed. The report specifies that Harrison was moving at 75 mph in a posted 50 mph zone, prompting the deputies to initiate an attempt to pull over the motorcyclist. This attempted stop occurred within the jurisdiction of Longview, a city located in Gregg County.
Instead of yielding to the law enforcement's attempt to stop him, Harrison allegedly fled the scene of the potential traffic stop. The custodial death report indicates that he did so at a high rate of speed, directly leading to the initiation of a pursuit by the Gregg County Sheriff’s units. This decision to flee marked the beginning of a prolonged chase across Longview.
The pursuit lasted for an estimated 13 minutes. During this period, Harrison was reported to have engaged in various maneuvers to evade the pursuing law enforcement vehicles. The custodial death report states that he ran multiple red lights and stop signs, demonstrating a disregard for traffic regulations during his flight. Additionally, he changed directions multiple times throughout the chase, complicating the efforts of the sheriff’s units to apprehend him. The sustained high speed and evasive actions characterized the entire 13-minute duration of the pursuit through Longview.
The chase reached its conclusion on U.S. Highway 80 and Loop 281 in Longview. At this intersection, Harrison’s motorcycle was involved in a collision. The custodial death report specifies that the collision occurred when Harrison collided with the rear of another law enforcement agency vehicle. Texas DPS Public Information Officer Adam Albritton provided further clarity on the incident, stating that the motorcyclist struck a patrol car belonging to the Hallsville Police Department.
Upon impact, Harrison was ejected from the seat of his motorcycle. The severity of the collision led to immediate and grave consequences. Emergency services were dispatched to the crash site on U.S. Highway 80 and Loop 281. However, despite any efforts, Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene. The custodial death report formally records the time of his death as 1:48 a.m. on Sept. 2. The report details the tragic outcome, confirming the fatality at the specific Longview location. The information provided in the custodial death report serves as the official record of the incident.
