A White County man told police that he was distracted by his cell phone Wednesday night when he slammed into the back of a Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputy’s car along I-85.
The deputy, who was working an off-duty traffic detail at a Georgia Department of Transportation construction zone, was injured in the crash, which happened about 11 p.m. between Indian Trail Lilburn Road and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
Gwinnett police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said 19-year-old Joshua S. Kim of Cleveland was driving a 2015 Kia Optima southbound in the HOT lane when he hit the deputy’s car, which was parked partially in the HOT lane with emergency lights activated as he assisted the road crew performing maintenance in the HOT lane.
The deputy, 32-year-old Justin Lunt, was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center for treatment of injuries that Ritter said were not life-threatening. Kim was not injured.
Ritter said Kim “stated to the investigators that he was looking at his cell phone, changing music, when he looked up and realized it was too late and struck the rear of the patrol car.”
Police arrested Kim and charged him with DUI-Less Safe, driving with a suspended or revoked license, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, following too close and failure to use due care while using a cell phone, Ritter said.
“This crash was the result of distracted driving, driving under the influence and failing to move over for emergency vehicles,” he said.
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