Father of injured deputy speaks out after crash

ATLANTA — The father of an injured Clayton County Sheriff's deputy said Amy Kemper is improving.

Kemper was injured when she was hit head-on by a suspected drunk driver last weekend. Channel 2's Tony Thomas spoke to the family, joined by dozens of loved ones who have been coming by Atlanta Medical Center to lend their support. Kemper's father said his daughter is in ICU, but she is awake and talking.

"The highlight of the moment was when she started talking and giving orders," Bill Kemper said.

It appeared to be a good sign for the critically-injured deputy, just one week after she was struck while riding her Harley in Coweta County. For days she was sedated, unable to move or talk. But she made a  breakthrough on Friday.

"The first thing she said was, 'Get me out of here, get me a wheelchair'," Kemper's father said.

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Georgia State Patrol has charged 26-year-old Christopher Brown with drunken driving. Troopers said he crossed over the center line of Hwy. 29 last Saturday night and struck the recovering deputy.

"She said, 'I will never have another motorcycle', and that's something for her, because she loved her motorcycles," Kemper's father said.

As the veteran deputy works toward recovery, family and friends have been trying to figure out ways to help. Because of all of the blood she lost, they've organized blood drives for Monday and Saturday in Peachtree City.

 "Amy did have to have a lot of blood, so any blood that's donated, she will receive credit for," Nancy Black, the deputy's friend, said.

Mr. Kemper predicts his daughter's recovery will entail a lot of rehab, from eight to 12 months.

"But knowing my daughter, it's going to be half that," he said.

• Blood drives will be at the Peachtree City Walmart Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2:30 p.m - 8:30 p.m.

WSBTV