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Bryan Lee Howard

Age : 27

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 10/16/2023

Location : Summit Park area

City : Clarksburg

County : Harrison

State : West Virginia

Agency : Harrison County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE:
Harrison County deputies pursued Howard after he allegedly failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign before turning onto Simpson Street.
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NARRATIVE:
On 10/16/2023, 27-year-old Bryan Lee Howard was killed when he crashed his motorcycle during a high-speed Harrison County Sheriff’s Office chase in the Clarksburg area.
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The chase began after deputies allegedly saw Howard fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign before turning onto Simpson Street in the Summit Park area. Deputies pursued Howard for approximately five minutes over narrow, dark roads at speeds that reportedly exceeded 115 mph.
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During the chase, deputies reportedly saw Howard nearly strike a deer and nearly lose control of the motorcycle but continued pursuing him. Howard ultimately lost control, was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered fatal injuries.
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Howard’s family subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Harrison County Commission, former Sheriff Robert Matheny and two unidentified deputies, alleging that the high-speed chase violated pursuit policies and should never have been initiated over the minor traffic violation.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The two Harrison County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in the chase have not been publicly identified. Former Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny was named as a defendant in the subsequent lawsuit.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wdtv.com/2025/10/13/man-sues-harrison-county-2023-motorcycle-chase-that-led-his-brothers-death/
https://www.wdtv.com/2023/10/20/bryan-lee-howard/