An Atlanta Police officer responding to an accident in Buckhead this weekend narrowly avoided injury after an alleged drunk driver struck his patrol car.
On Sunday, July 24, early in the morning, APD Officer McCall was assisting Officer Brown at an accident on Ga. 400 southbound at Lenox Road. While Brown worked the accident scene, McCall requested a Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) unit to block traffic. As he waited for the HERO unit, McCall turned on the blue lights to his patrol car to block traffic.
McCall exited his vehicle to assist Brown when an Audi “driving at a high rate of speed” in the far left lane struck a Ford, causing the Ford to cross two lanes of traffic and strike McCall’s patrol car, according to a police report.
McCall was able to run toward the right shoulder of the road to avoid being struck by the Ford. He was not injured.
The driver of the Audi, Abraham Martinez, 29, was arrested and charged with DUI.
The driver of the Ford was transported to Grady Hospital where he was reported to not have any visible injuries but was being evaluated, according to a report.
McCall’s patrol car suffered heavy damage to the front end and had to be towed.