Hearing delayed for driver charged in Bloomingdale motorcyclist’s death

BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WTOC) - A judge postponed a hearing in the case of a man accused of hitting and killing a motorcyclist in Bloomingdale after two expected witnesses did not appear.

Johnathan Cournai Ferrell, 51, is charged with homicide by vehicle in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

Chatham County Police said the crash happened at about 7 p.m. Dec. 28, 2025, near the intersection of Ted Newton Avenue and John Carter Road. Police said officers responded to a crash on John Carter Road, where a Chevy Impala leaving a driveway struck a motorcycle that was passing by.

Police said the motorcyclist, 61-year-old David E. Stottlemire of Pembroke, was riding a Harley-Davidson with a female passenger. Stottlemire died several days later, police said.

The female passenger and a detective who were expected to testify were not present at the hearing. The judge rescheduled the hearing for late August.

Chatham County Police said the misdemeanor homicide-by-vehicle charge is the standard an at-fault driver would face in a fatal crash with no aggravating circumstances.