UPDATE: Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick on Friday morning identified the two victims who were killed in a motorcycle wreck Thursday evening as Justin Hardin, 26, and Josey Johnson, 24, both of Cullman.
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CULLMAN – Late Thursday night, Cullman Police Department officers and Cullman County Sheriff's Office deputies spotted two motorcycles traveling at "a high rate of speed" around the county before splitting up in opposite directions, with one traveling out into the county and the other going back into the city of Cullman.
CPD officer Chuck Shikle was the last to see the two-passenger motorcycle in the city before it had a deadly collision with a power pole on 2nd Ave NE.
CPD Chief Kenny Culpepper said, "CPD had a report of two motorcycles coming into town on Hwy. 278 at a high rate of speed. They split up and went in opposite directions," Culpepper said.
"Officer Chuck Shikle observed them traveling on 2nd Ave NE as he left the police station. He attempted to pursue, but the motorcycle was out of his sight."
Officer Shikle shortly arrived at the crash scene, located at the top of the hill in the first curve on 2nd Ave NE, according to Culpepper.
"We were never in a pursuit, and a call of a pursuit was never called in because they were traveling at such a high rate of speed our officers couldn't turn around and catch up with them safely," he said. "They were traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph and that's just too fast for us to turn around and try to catch up."
Culpepper said the search for the second motorcycle was called off due to weather conditions.
Mike Manning, manager Cullman Power Board, said crews are on the scene currently restoring power to the area's residents.
