A retired Fulton County Sheriff's deputy was struck by a vehicle while working a traffic detail in downtown Atlanta early Sunday, turning a marathon morning into a crime scene just off the race course. The collision happened near the intersection of Ted Turner Drive and Mitchell Street during activities for the Publix Atlanta Marathon. The deputy was taken to a nearby hospital and was reported to be alert and breathing.
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said the retired deputy, who had been assigned to the marathon traffic detail, was hit while directing vehicles and then transported to the hospital, according to Atlanta News First. The agency described his condition as "alert, conscious and breathing." Atlanta News First also reported, citing the sheriff's office, that the driver involved had not been detained.
Early information from the scene did not exactly line up. WSB1V reported that an Atlanta Police spokeswoman said a driver was taken into custody at the scene. The station also reported that Atlanta Police Department officers and Atlanta Fire Rescue responded and that the area was cleared shortly before 9 a.m.
Race-day staffing and safety
The deputy was part of the traffic operation tied to the Publix Atlanta Marathon, an event coordinated by Atlanta Track Club that leans on a mix of staff, volunteers and law enforcement traffic monitors along the course, according to Atlanta Track Club. Organizers publish course maps and volunteer assignments that spell out which downtown streets are closed and where personnel are stationed to manage race-day traffic.
Investigation underway
Neither the Fulton County Sheriff's Office nor the Atlanta Police Department immediately released the deputy's name, and both agencies said the incident remains under investigation. Atlanta News First published the first detailed account of the crash, while WSB1V reported on the Atlanta Police Department's response. Authorities have not released any additional information about possible charges or the condition of the driver involved.
