A woman accused of hitting a Sandy Springs police officer with her car and driving off was denied bond in court Tuesday, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Madison Kelley Leftwich, 25, of Atlanta, faces five charges after allegedly hitting the officer directing traffic on Powers Ferry Road near the One River Place condo complex, the department said in a news release.
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
A Toyota sedan hit the officer, who was working an off-duty job while wearing his full police uniform as well as a traffic vest, Sgt. Sam Worsham told AJC.com. He was directing traffic when the car struck him.
The officer is back home after receiving stitches at Grady Memorial Hospital.
“He did have a cut on his head,” Worsham said. “ ... Our thoughts are with him and his recovery.”
The officer was standing on the side of the road and was knocked to the ground just before 8 a.m., according to police. While the Toyota did not stop, Worsham said another driver prevented the officer from being hit again in traffic.
“The vehicle that came up behind immediately after it happened, the driver stopped, exited the vehicle, used the officer’s radio and called in that an officer had been hit by a car,” he said.
The Toyota, which appears to be a newer model Corolla with a paper temporary tag, was found at an apartment complex near the scene, according to police.
Credit: Sandy Springs Police Department
Credit: Sandy Springs Police Department
The investigation shut down Powers Ferry Road between the Chattahoochee River and Northside Drive until about 9:30 a.m. The roadway is a busy alternate to I-285 for drivers commuting from Cobb County, and Worsham said the injured officer regularly directs traffic there.
“Our request is for drivers to please put down the phones,” he said. “Don’t be distracted. Focus ... You can kill somebody.”
After the road reopened, alternates were no longer needed, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Leftwich faces charges of hit-and-run, failure to obey an officer directing traffic, serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving and lane violation. She is being held in the Fulton County Jail.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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