The sheriff of Bradley County was injured Sunday in a crash on Interstate 75 and kept in a local hospital for observation, according to a news release from the Bradley County Sheriff's Office.
The crash occurred near the Shallowford Road exit after Sheriff Steve Lawson left a church service sometime earlier, the release states. The sheriff was driving his personal vehicle.
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"Sheriff Lawson was transported from the scene to a local hospital to be treated," agency spokesperson Sgt. Robert Jones said in the release issued Sunday. "He will be staying overnight at the hospital for observation. In the coming days, we ask that you keep Sheriff Lawson and his family in your thoughts."
Contacted Monday, Jones said there had been no update on the sheriff's condition as of 9:15 a.m.
According to a Chattanooga police spokesperson, a multi-vehicle accident happened just before 1 p.m. Sunday on the southbound lanes of I-75.
"Chattanooga Fire and Hamilton County EMS responded," spokesperson Sgt. Victor Miller said via email. "EMS transported three people to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries."
A preliminary investigation indicates three vehicles were stopped or slowed for heavy traffic, according to Miller. A fourth vehicle failed to stop and rear-ended one of the vehicles. The impact from the vehicle that failed to stop caused the other vehicles to move forward, striking the vehicles in front of them. Three vehicles were towed from the scene.
There was no information about which vehicle carried Lawson. Miller said the crash is still under investigation.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.