North Fulton County

Drunk driver 3x the legal limit slams into patrol car on Ga. 400, police say

By Audrey Washington, WSB-TV
By Audrey Washington, WSB-TV

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police said a suspected drunken driver slammed into a police cruiser in the early morning hours on New Year's Day.

The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. on Ga. 400 at Holcomb Bridge Road, police said. The police officer had just gotten out of the cruiser while responding to another crash scene and wasn't hurt.

Channel 2's Audrey Washington spoke to a witness, who said the second he saw the crash, he assumed it was alcohol-involved.

Sahr Gbonia said he was on his way back from the gym Tuesday morning when he saw flashing blue lights and saw commotion.

"I suspected it was drunk driving," Gbonia said. "I was like, 'Dang, it's New Year's.'"

Police said the driver's blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit and the driver was going 80 mph.

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Police told Washington several officers were responding to another crash earlier in the night. One officer arrived later to assist. She sat in her cruiser for a few minutes but then got a bad feeling and stepped out of the car, Sgt. Howard Miller with the Alpharatta Police Department said.

“A couple of more seconds later another vehicle, a black Infiniti sedan, came at a high rate of speed, they estimate at about 80 to 85 miles per hour, and plowed into the back of our officer’s car," Howard said.

Police said the driver is Megan Johnston. Police say Johnston never hit the brakes and missed the other officers on the scene by just inches.

Washington asked Miller if she didn't see the flashing blue lights.

"The driver apparently said, yes, she did, and just didn't know why she didn't stop," Miller said.

Johnston only suffered a minor scratch.

Police said they are convinced the officer could have been killed if she was inside the cruiser.

A field sobriety test administered at the scene revealed she was almost three times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Johnston faces a number of charges including DUI and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Gbonia said he's thankful no one was hurt.

"I mean, it's a drunk driver," Gbonia said. "I"m surprised anyone survived."

Police said the crash was one of two drunk driving crashes they responded to on New Year's Eve. Police hope the incident reminds people not to drink and drive.

Cox Media Group

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