Sandy Springs Police Officer Hit By Suspected Drunk Driver

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — A suspected drunk driver hit a Sandy Springs police patrol vehicle early Saturday morning, leaving the officer to recover in the hospital from his injuries.

A Sandy Springs Police patrol officer was on Ga. 400 southbound near Windsor Parkway facilitating a traffic stop when his patrol vehicle was hit by an unrelated vehicle. The officer was inside his patrol vehicle with the emergency equipment activated and visible on the right shoulder, the department said.

The officer was transported to a nearby hospital where he remains and is being treated for injuries sustained during the collision.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the driver Khiry Smith, 24, from Atlanta was taken into custody and charged with various crimes, including DUI, violation of the move-over-law, open container, and reckless driving.

"This is yet another reminder of the seriousness and dangers of drunk driving and its implications," the Sandy Springs Police said on Facebook. "If you plan on drinking and need to get somewhere, please use services such as Uber, Lyft or call a friend. Doing these simple things can save a life, including your own. Lastly, every time there is an emergency vehicle (police, fire, ems, HERO unit) with its emergency equipment activated, it is the law to slow down and move over. In the event that you cannot move over due to heavy traffic, you must slow down and carefully pass the emergency vehicle."