A holiday weekend patrol turned hazardous for a Pike County Sheriff’s deputy after a collision involving a suspected drunk driver. The Pike County Sheriff's Office reported that last Friday night, Octavius Ward, 37, struck the deputy's car while it was parked on U.S. Highway 19, as the deputy responded to a single-vehicle crash, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta.
The sheriff’s office shared news of the incident on social media, detailing the crash that involved a total of five vehicles, all of which required towing from the scene. The aftermath of the crash, fortunately, resulted in no serious injuries; however, the incident prompted the office to issue a stern reminder about the dangers of impaired driving. "This is a reminder not to drink and drive," the sheriff's office released in a statement, as noted in an article from Atlanta News First.
The warning comes amidst a statewide crackdown on unsafe driving behaviors over the holiday period. According to reports from the Georgia Department of Public Safety cited by Atlanta News First, there have been over 250 DUI arrests since last Thursday evening, and nearly 400 citations for distracted driving. Moreover, the department has reported 137 crashes, tragically resulting in six fatalities over the same period.
