Spalding County Sheriff Dee Stewart, badly hurt in a wreck last month, has died, the sheriff's office confirmed Sunday morning.
Stewart, 63, died about 4:15 a.m. Sunday at Atlanta Medical Center, where he had been since sustaining critical head injuries in the June 23 crash.
The accident occurred when Stewart, on patrol in his sheriff’s Chevrolet Silverado pickup, pulled out of Moose Lodge Road onto Highway 19/41 in Griffin.
Stewart’s grandson, Spalding Deputy Chad Gasaway, was driving his personal Ford Explorer north on Highway 19/41 when he struck the sheriff as he was pulling out.
Stewart was taken by helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center.
Gasaway had minor injuries and has returned to duty after a brief absence while recuperating. He was off-duty at the time of the accident.
Stewart, who had spent nearly 40 years in law enforcement, was re-elected to another four-year term as sheriff in 2008. Before being elected sheriff, he was a member of the Griffin police force.
During the campaign in 2008, Stewart said he would target illegal drugs and wanted the sheriff's department to be more community-oriented. After being re-elected, he told the Griffin Daily News he looked forward to "just being here for the public. I’m here for every person in the world. I don’t make any bones about it. I’ll do anything I can for everyone.”
The funeral for Stewart will be Thursday at Second Baptist Church in Griffin at noon. A visitation will take place Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at the church.
About the Author
