A Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy suffered serious injuries early Saturday morning when his patrol car was rear-ended on Ga. 400.
According to Deputy Doug Rainwater, Deputy First Class Rod Reeves was working traffic enforcement, sitting in his marked car on the shoulder of the highway at the time.
"Then all of a sudden, a Ford Explorer, full speed, came off of his lane into the emergency lane, into the shoulder and struck Deputy Reeves' patrol car in the rear, causing extensive damage." Rainwater said.
The crash happened at roughly 1:30 a.m. on the northbound side of the highway at Majors Road in the south end of the county.
Rainwater described Reeves' injuries as very serious and significant, but not life-threatening.
"His whole body was crushed between the patrol cage, that we have in the patrol car, up to the dash. That little section of his patrol car...was about the only thing that wasn't crushed on his car."
Rainwater said first responders had to cut through the wreckage to get Reeves out through the passenger side of the car.
The driver of the 2005 Ford Explorer, Aaron Riley Russell, 27, was also hurt and was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
"We are suspecting that he was driving under the influence. At the same time, his Georgia driver's license is currently suspended, revoked in Georgia, and he is considered an habitual violator," Rainwater said.
Authorities Saturday morning weren't sure of Russell's city of residence. The registration on his SUV is Gainesville, but his driver's license registration is for Eatonton, according to Rainwater.
Local authorities turned the investigation over to the Georgia State Patrol.
