Police and highway patrol officers face dangers on a daily basis on the highways of Georgia. They investigated a possible DUI crash involving a deputy’s car in Dundee in September.
The two-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. Highway 27 and Dundee Road in Dundee, reported Fox 13.
The Fox report stated one of the automobiles was a marked patrol car from the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Miranda Sheppard was part of a Hurricane Irma relief convoy heading to southern Florida. She was stopped in the intersection with emergency lights on, blocking traffic for the convoy.
The Fox report noted she was involved in a crash once the convoy cleared the intersection.
A 28-year-old driver from Dundee crashed into the patrol car, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The young driver is accused of fleeing the scene but was located nearby.
DUI crash in Dundee – suspect hit a deputy
Police said he was arrested for DUI and failure to give information at a crash. His BAC was reported to be 0.121.
Drunk driving remains a major issue in Georgia. On average 300 people lose their lives every year to drunk drivers on the highways of Georgia.
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Georgia, about a quarter of all road deaths in the state are attributable to alcohol or drugs.
There is evidence the problem is getting worse in Georgia. In 2015, the most recent year for which figures are available, the state recorded 366 impaired-driving related fatalities. It was the highest number since 2009.
If you are involved in an accident with an impaired driver, the chances of losing your life are six times higher, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
Alcohol is also a significant cause of fatal motorcycle crashes. It accounts for about 25 percent of rider deaths every year in the state.
Consuming alcohol can impair your judgment. Even a minor mistake can have major implications behind the wheel and can hurt innocent passengers. Over the summer, a woman was accused of DUI in a crash that left two child passengers with terrible injuries.
The driver was charged with DUI, reckless driving, six counts of failure to restrain children, failure to yield, six counts of DUI child endangerment, and six counts of serious injury by vehicle.
If you have been hurt by a drunk driver or lost a loved one, call the Law Offices of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.