Sgt. Richard Williams, pictured here in his department ID photo, was struck by a vehicle on Sunday.A 27-year-old woman hit a Fort Oglethorpe police officer with her vehicle Sunday afternoon while the officer was directing traffic at a car accident, according to police.
Sgt. Richard Williams, 65, responded to an multiple car accident with injuries and entrapment at the intersection of Cloud Springs Road and Mack Smith Road around 1 p.m. Sunday, Chief David Eubanks said.
Just a couple of minutes after he got out of his patrol car to direct traffic, a woman drove a van toward him and hit him while attempting to make a left turn, Eubanks said.
Driver Martha Dunn is charged with failure to obey authorized persons directing traffic and failure to exercise due care, said Cpl. E. Tommy Bonaparte with the Georgia State Patrol, the agency handling the investigation. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Dunn was one of four drivers who were making a left turn on to Mineral Avenue at the intersection, Bonaparte said. The first three cars made the turn without incident, but Dunn swung wide and struck the officer.
"Instead of paying attention to the officer she was looking left at another vehicle and hit him," Bonaparte said.
Williams suffered broken bones in his face and a concussion, Eubanks said. He right hand and right knee were also injured. The officer is being treated at Erlanger in Chattanooga.
The 20-year veteran officer is expected to make a full recovery.
"He's not having fun today, but he'll be OK," Eubanks said.
This is the second time this month that a first responder has been hit by a vehicle while responding to a traffic accident. In early February, a Chattanooga firefighter was struck on East Brainerd Road.
The woman in that case was charged with driving under the influence and other traffic violations.
Read tomorrow's Times Free Press for complete details on this story.
News report from when a Chattanooga firefighter was struck earlier this month: