Truck strikes, injures Franklin County deputy on I-85

CARNESVILLE – A Franklin County deputy sheriff was treated and released after being struck by a truck while searching a stolen vehicle on I-85 on New Year’s Eve.

“A Franklin County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle on Interstate 85 southbound at mile marker 160,” said Sgt. Richard Fleming of Georgia State Patrol Post 52 Hartwell.

The traffic stop took place about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, said Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.

“While two deputies were searching the vehicle, a U-Haul failed to move over and struck the patrol car and the stolen vehicle,” Fleming said. “The impact caused moderate injuries to the deputy, who was searching on the driver’s side.”

Thomas said the second deputy was able to get the injured deputy out of the road.

The driver of the truck stopped past the accident scene and has been charged by GSP with failure to move over.

The injured deputy, whose name has not been released yet, was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where he was treated then released Friday.

“We are very lucky and thank God that my deputy is recovering at his home,” Thomas said.

Damage to a Franklin County Sheriff's Office patrol unit can be seen as officers survey a stolen vehicle also struck by a passing U-Haul truck on I-85 near Carnesville Thursday night.

Impact by a passing U-Haul truck sent a Franklin County Sheriff's Office patrol car into a stolen vehicle in the emergency lane of Interstate 85, injuring a deputy about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

A Franklin County Sheriff's Office patrol car and a stolen car both have damage after a U-Haul truck failed to move over on I-85 and struck them, injuring a deputy sheriff about 8:45 p.m. Friday.

Minor damage can be seen on the U-Haul truck that struck a stopped Franklin County Sheriff's Office patrol car and a stolen car on I-85, injuring a deputy sheriff, about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/1/967216/truck-strikes-injures-franklin-county-deputy-on-i-85