An elderly motorist crashed into a slow-moving police convoy transporting a disabled SWAT vehicle on a Georgia highway Friday morning, sending two people to the hospital and raising questions about highway safety protocols during emergency vehicle operations.
Three-Vehicle Chain Reaction on State Route 3
The collision occurred just before 11 a.m. on State Route 3 in Spalding County when a Clayton County Police Department armored Bearcat SWAT vehicle experienced mechanical failure while traveling southbound. The heavily armored tactical vehicle was crawling along in the right lane at significantly reduced speed due to the malfunction. A Clayton County police Chevrolet Tahoe followed directly behind the disabled Bearcat with emergency blue lights activated to warn approaching traffic of the slow-moving convoy ahead.
Georgia State Patrol troopers reported that an elderly driver operating a Nissan Titan pickup truck approached the two police vehicles from behind in the same lane. The Nissan struck the rear of the Chevrolet Tahoe with enough force to push the police SUV forward into the Bearcat ahead of it, creating a three-vehicle chain reaction collision on the busy state highway.
Both Drivers Hospitalized After Impact
Emergency responders transported the officer driving the Chevrolet Tahoe to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment following the impact. The elderly driver of the Nissan Titan also required medical attention and was taken to a hospital. Georgia State Patrol has not released the identities of either driver involved in the crash. The extent of their injuries remains undisclosed as the investigation continues. The driver of the Bearcat was not reported injured in the incident.
Investigation Continues Into Convoy Crash
The Georgia State Patrol is leading the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Troopers are examining whether the emergency lights on the police escort vehicle provided adequate warning to approaching motorists, and whether additional safety measures should have been implemented during the transport of the disabled tactical vehicle. The crash highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when moving large, slow-moving specialized vehicles on public highways, particularly when mechanical failures force convoys to operate at drastically reduced speeds in regular traffic lanes. No citations have been issued at this time.
Don’t blame the officers for an inattentive driver. Even with out flashing blue lights the old man should of seen slower traffic ahead. Not saying yhe old man shouldn’t be driving but he damn sure wasn’t looking ahead, was he!
Sounds like operator malfunction on the elderly gentleman’s part. ( not rocket science )
Of course, the police screwed up ! If you run into a slow moving vehicle that even had police cars with flashing lights around it, then YOU are at fault ! DUI and speed used to be the major cause of accidents. Now its distracted drivers, you know like texting, emailing, talking on the phone, staring at a screen on your dashboard. The driver of the PU was 100 % at fault. But we have deep $$$ pockets here for a law suit.