Spalding County's sheriff remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Sunday, three days after a collision with a vehicle driven by his grandson that left the sheriff with a serious head injury and in a medically induced coma.
Sheriff Dee Stewart remains in the intensive care unit of Atlanta Medical Center, where he rushed by helicopter about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a nursing supervisor said shortly before noon Sunday.
Stewart was on patrol in his sheriff's Chevrolet Silverado pickup Thursday when the vehicle collided with a Ford Explorer being driven by his grandson, Spalding Deputy Chad Gasaway.
The impact of the crash knocked Stewart's truck into some nearby woods at Moose Lodge Road and Ga. 19 in Griffin.
Capt.Tony Ranieri, the department's spokesman, said Stewart, 63, was placed into a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator on arrival at the hospital to give doctors time to run tests to determine the extent of his head injury.
Family and friends have been keeping vigil at the hospital. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the wreck in which Gasaway, who was off-duty at the time, had minor injuries.
Stewart has been in law enforcement for nearly 40 years. He was re-elected to another four-year term as sheriff in 2008 and previously was a member of the Griffin Police Department.
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