A Rome man is in stable condition at an Atlanta hospital after surviving a motorcycle wreck in Cedartown on Wednesday.

Kevin Dean Holloway, 25, of Rome, was air lifted to Atlanta Medical Center after his bike collided with a 1998 Dodge Caravan around 5:30 p.m. on North Main Street near Francis Drive.

Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome said he has talked with the family. According to the family, Holloway has had surgery and they are optimistic about him making a full recovery.

“It was a very severe impact,” Newsome said. “As soon as we arrived on the scene, medical personal immediately called for an air lift. It was one of the quickest air lifts we’ve done.”

Newsome said their investigation has concluded the driver of the van, Sondra Cason of Cedartown, failed to yield right of way. She was cited, he said.

“Holloway had gotten off work in Cedartown and was traveling up North Main and the Dodge pulled out of the shopping center in front of him,” Newsome said.

“Our investigation led us to the conclusion he didn’t even have time to put on the brakes.”

Holloway’s bike slammed into the sliding door of the van.

Newsome said police had to close off streets to handle the wreck. Other agencies, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockmart Police Department, the Rockmart Fire Department, the Polk County Volunteer Fire Department, and the EMS assisted in handling traffic and with the airlift, he said.

Newsome said EMS crews took Holloway, with a law enforcement escort, to the Nathan Dean Sports Complex in Rockmart to meet the helicopter. The other agencies assisted in clearing traffic for travel and creating a landing zone on the field, he said.

Newsome said the decision was made to meet the airlift in Rockmart in order to cut waiting time for the helicopter. Minutes matter in surviving these types of injuries, he said.

“Emergency got him in the helicopter within a half-hour after the wreck,” he said.

Another thing that saved Holloway was his safety gear. Newsome said the helmet helped Holloway survive and he encourages all bikers to always wear proper safety gear.

Newsome said this incident should remind drivers to be more aware of motorcyclists on the road. There are more biking in the summer and that increases the likelihood of an accident, he said.

“If there is an accident between a car and a motorcycle, the car always wins,” he said.