AUSTELL, Ga. — An off-duty police officer who was involved in a head-on collision on Six Flags Drive in Cobb County is fighting to survive Wednesday.
Police told Channel 2's Audrey Washington that the victim is an Atlanta police officer and was off duty at the time of the crash.
The accident was reported just before 6 a.m. at the intersection of Elsner Road in Austell.
%
%
Authorities said it appears that the officer, identified as Gabriel McElroy, was returning from his shift when he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car, crossed over the bend in the road and collided with a box truck head-on.
Cobb County police said McElroy was rushed into surgery at WellStar Atlanta Medical Center in northeast Atlanta. He is listed in critical condition.
%
%
Police said the truck driver complained of some pain to his side, but is OK.
The truck belonged to a paper company.
Crews spent hours getting the paper cleaned up and investigating the scene.
Cox Media Group
