A Habersham County Sheriff’s Office unit was struck by another vehicle Saturday night
while providing lights for a road construction project on Ga. 365 southbound near James
Short Tractor in Alto. And that same evening, a Demorest police car was struck, also in Habersham County. Bot were victims of violations of Georgia’s Move Over Law, according to authorities.
HABERSHAM CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASEE:
*(In the first instance), a deputy’s Dodge Charger (pictured) had a full complement of emergency lights that were activated as he was providing a buffer for road workers when his vehicle was struck from
the rear by a second vehicle just after 9 p.m.
While units remained on the scene of (that accident)…a Demorest police officer’s patrol vehicle door was struck by another vehicle as he attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Ga. 365 northbound near Double
Bridge Connector.
“These collisions serve as an urgent reminder of the importance of slowing down
whenever you see emergency lights or utility vehicles working on or near a roadway,”
said Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum. “This is not the first time one of our
vehicles has been struck trying to keep work crews safe in that area of Ga. 365, but
thankfully our personnel and others involved have not been injured in the collisions.”
Georgia’s Move Over Law requires drivers to move over one lane when possible if an
emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway.
If traffic is too heavy for drivers to move over safely, the law requires drivers to slow
down to a reasonable speed below the posted speed limit and to be prepared to stop.”