Crashes highlight Move Over Law

ATLANTA,None — For the second time in one week, an Atlanta police officer found himself in the path of a car while helping a driver on an interstate. The Atlanta Police Department is stressing the importance of Georgia's Move Over Law.

The crash happened on Interstate 285 at Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway on Thursday.  That was two days after a drunken driver hit and killed Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas, police said.

Sgt. Curtis Davenport told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri that Officer Scott Wallins pulled over to help a stranded driver by the median in the far left hand lane.

"A third vehicle rear-ended the officer's vehicle. The officer was out of the vehicle," Davenport said.

As that oncoming car crashed into Wallins' patrol car, the officer had to jump up onto the median to avoid being hit.

"That same vehicle swung around and struck the stalled motorist," Davenport added.

The driver who was hit told Viteri she was in her car, waiting on roadside assistance. She saw the third car hit Wallins' patrol car and then felt it hit her car also. Davenport said Thomas' fatal crash shows how dangerous it could have been.

"We're thankful that it didn't turn out that way," he told Viteri.

Officers cited the driver in Thursday's crash with failure to move over. According to the report, the driver said she couldn't get over because of traffic in the other lanes. Sergeant Davenport said policing is inherently dangerous work, but alert drivers can save lives.

"Pay attention to the rules of the road. There are certain laws in place. They're in place for a reason," he added.

According to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, crashes are the most common way for officers to die in the line of duty.

WSBTV