A series of collisions in Clayton County involving law enforcement officers and an inmate led to multiple hospitalizations, including a sheriff’s captain struck by a vehicle at the scene of the initial incident last night.
The first crash occurred around 5:13 p.m. at the intersection of Forest Parkway and Southridge Parkway, where a 2014 Lincoln MKZ driver reportedly failed to stop at a red light and rear-ended a Clayton County Sheriff's Office vehicle, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, the Sheriff's vehicle subsequently hit a 2020 Chevrolet Trax; this three-vehicle accident resulted in the two deputies, one detainee, and drivers of the Lincoln and Chevy being transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment, and state troopers are investigating the crash, officials suspect alcohol may have been a factor.
Following this initial collision, a second and related incident occurred, as reported by WSB Radio, a sheriff's captain was hit by an elderly driver while standing on the road at the crash site; Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln shared a photo displaying the aftermath, revealing significant damage to the deputy's vehicle, and Tom Jones of Channel 2 indicated that the captain was stable and had been transported to Grady along with the previously injured deputy and inmate.
The Clayton County Sheriff's Office is considering charges in connection with the first incident, with the suspicion that Lincoln's driver might have operated the vehicle while under the influence, although no formal announcement has been made at this point. The Sheriff's Office has yet to provide additional commentary regarding the events that unfolded in rapid and chaotic succession, leaving several of their own in hospital care and a community awaiting answers.
