Crossing guards in Georgia often have a thankless job. When they do everything they’re supposed to, nothing happens: kids arrive at school as planned. When things go wrong, however, they can go very wrong: speeding drivers can turn an otherwise bucolic scene into a nightmare. Crossing guards have to put themselves in harm’s way all the time when they do their jobs. An inattentive or negligent driver can do some real damage to a basically defenseless crossing guard.
This is what happened recently in Cherokee County when a 20-year-old driver hit a 63-year-old crossing guard and then drove off. The driver was arrested one day later after an anonymous tip enabled law enforcement officials to find a vehicle at the suspect’s home with a missing bumper.
Ironically, the driver told officials that he was speeding through the school zone in order to make the start of his graduation from DUI school. It was not clear if he did in fact arrive at the ceremony on time, but he may have to spend more time contemplating his alleged crimes. He was charged with multiple felonies including serious injury by vehicle and felony hit-and-run. His bail was set at $30,000.
The crossing guard was said to be recovering from his injury — a broken ankle — at home. However, he will doubtless have several medical bills to deal with as well as several weeks of income loss as a result of missing work. People who have been injured often consult with personal injury attorneys to try to recover compensation.
Source: WSB-TV, “Man charged in hit-and-run that injured crossing guard faces judge,” March 22, 2013
- Our firm handles cases similar to this one. For more information, please visit our Atlanta auto accident page.
