A Douglasville police officer left his patrol car off the side of an interstate last Friday morning so he could help a motorist change a tire.
By the time the officer finished, the patrol car was totaled.
About 6:45 a.m., the driver of a Kia Forte slammed into the car, which was parked in an emergency lane along I-20 just before Fairburn Road, Douglasville police Capt. Brad Stafford told AJC.com. The crash pushed the patrol car into a pickup truck, which was the vehicle with a flat tire. A fourth vehicle was also damaged.
The Kia’s driver was taken to a hospital after the crash, but no one else was hurt.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the incident since it involves a police vehicle, Stafford said. The Kia’s driver was identified as Ariella Kevina Williams, 25, of Norcross, according to a GSP crash report.
Before being taken to Atlanta Medical Center, Williams told troopers that “she was sleepy” since she had just left a friend’s house without getting much sleep, the report said. Troopers also said she was under the influence of marijuana.
Williams faces counts of DUI, not wearing a seat belt, failure to maintain lane, driving on a limited permit and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, the GSP said.
Douglasville police posted pictures of the crushed patrol car on Facebook, saying it’s a reminder to move over for emergency vehicles that are parked on a shoulder.
“This is a reminder of why we tell drivers to slow down, move over, don’t drive distracted and don’t drive under the influence,” the post said. “Any of these can cause something like this.”
Georgia is one of 49 states that has a “move-over” law.
RELATED: You can be fined $500 for not obeying Georgia's 'move-over' law
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