Newly released surveillance footage shows University of Georgia football player Nyier Daniels speeding through downtown Commerce during a police chase that authorities say topped 150 mph on Interstate 85.
Daniels, a freshman offensive lineman, was dismissed from the team Monday by head coach Kirby Smart, one day after his arrest. He faces multiple felony charges, including fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and two counts of second-degree cruelty to children.
According to a Commerce Police incident report, Daniels was driving a 2022 BMW M5 with his younger siblings in the car when he accelerated through a 25-mph zone at an estimated 100 mph. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but Daniels fled, reaching 150 mph on the interstate before officers lost sight of the vehicle near mile marker 144.
Police Chief Jeff Drossman said the chase began moments after Daniels’ mother was pulled over for a stop sign violation. Daniels allegedly drove past the stop at high speed before fleeing. When later asked why he did not stop, Daniels told officers he “did not want his mother to get a ticket,” according to the report.
“You know, it probably could have been a verbal or written warning,” Drossman said. “At worst, a citation. But now you have multiple misdemeanor charges and felony charges, and two people end up in jail for no reason at all.”
Surveillance video obtained by 11Alive shows Daniels’ BMW moving at high speed through the town center while a pursuing officer remains several car lengths behind. Officers said they were unable to match Daniels’ pace due to safety requirements at intersections and traffic signals.
The situation escalated further when Daniels’ mother allegedly attempted to block officers responding to the chase. Police said she pulled into the roadway in front of a Commerce Police supervisor and continued driving more than 100 mph while refusing to stop. She was later arrested and charged with speeding, obstruction, reckless driving, two counts of running a stop sign, failure to maintain lane and fleeing.
After Daniels was identified as a UGA player, police contacted the university. A UGA coach later brought Daniels and the vehicle to authorities. Officers reported smelling marijuana coming from the car after it was impounded.
The arresting officer wrote that Daniels “seemed not to care” about the danger posed to his siblings or others on the roadway.
Daniels was booked on a $20,500 bond, and his mother received an $11,000 bond. Online jail records as of Monday night did not show either still in custody.
“I have not had a chance to talk to him or his family, but he’ll no longer be with us,” Smart said Monday.
Authorities said the incident could have had far more serious consequences.
“Reckless disregard for human safety and life,” Drossman said. “To have kids in a car with no control over what’s happening — that’s what makes this particularly concerning.”
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