WHITE, Ga. - A mayor of a northwest Georgia town died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday.
Perry Bell, mayor of the Bartow County town of White, died of blunt force trauma to the chest, The Daily Tribune News of Cartersville reported.
Murray County Deputy Coroner Jonathan Sosebee said Bell, 54, wrecked and struck by another rider on the Lazy River Motocross track near Dalton.
It was an unavoidable accident, said Sosebee. From what I understand, he was on a jump and then crashed on top of a jump. There was a rider right behind him and he was unable to do anything he wasn't able to see him to avoid it. Sosebee said Bell was too severely injured to be evacuated by helicopter and died at a hospital in Chatsworth.
Sosebee said officials are investigating, but no criminal charges have been filed.
Sosebee said the other rider sustained minor injuries but was released from a hospital hours later.
White won a majority in a special election earlier this year to become mayor. He took office in June. White wanted to restore the mayor's powers after many were transferred to a city manager and the previous mayor resigned.
After Bell's death, White Mayor Pro Tem Gary Crisp will take over mayoral duties. Crisp told ABC affiliate WSB of Atlanta that it is likely that the city will hold another special election to replace Bell.