Hall County deputy fired after deadly crash involving his patrol car, sheriff says

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A Hall County sheriff’s deputy has been fired after being involved in a crash that left one person dead and another injured.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said that Deputy Aaron Buchanan was off-duty, but while driving his marked patrol car, he was involved in a crash.

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The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Dawsonville Highway at Nix Drive.

Buchanan has worked for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office since September 2016, but has only been a patrol deputy since January 2021.

“I extend my sincerest condolences to the family that has suffered the loss of a loved one and the injury of another,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “We are saddened and shocked by the tragic crash that occurred this morning. Our employees are held to a higher standard and they are entrusted to serve and protect those in this community.”

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“This deputy failed to follow his training and our agency’s long-standing policies and procedures and neglected to obey state law. No one in law enforcement should ever cause the innocent to be harmed and this type of reckless behavior will not be tolerated by anyone,” Couch said.

Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash, but has not released details on it.

The identity of the person killed has not been released.

There is no word at this time if anyone will face criminal charges related to the crash.

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