UGA student hit by police car in Athens

A University of Georgia student refused medical treatment after a police car hit him. The student was outside of a crosswalk at the time of the accident, police said.

A University of Georgia student refused medical treatment after a police car hit him. The student was outside of a crosswalk at the time of the accident, police said.

A University of Georgia student was hit by a police car in Athens early Friday, officials said.

About 1:10 a.m., an officer in a marked patrol vehicle was traveling east on Baxter Street toward Lumpkin Street, Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez said in a statement.

As the officer neared Baxter Street and Cloverhurst Avenue, two UGA students, a male and a female, got out of an Uber in the middle left turn lane.

“The male and female were crossing into the eastbound lane of traffic, in the path of the officer’s vehicle,” Rodriguez said. “The male and female were headed toward a residence hall off Baxter Street and neither of them were in a crosswalk.”

The officer slammed on his brakes and the female jumped back into the turn lane, according to police.

“The male crossed in front of the patrol car and struck the bottom passenger side corner of the patrol vehicle’s front windshield, causing it to crack,” Rodriguez said. “ ... The male’s hand was the only portion of his body that struck the vehicle.”

He refused medical treatment, according to police.

The Uber left the scene before the officer could make contact with the driver, Rodriguez said.

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