A Cornelia police officer was given a traffic ticket and ordered to attend training after an investigation determined he was texting and driving when he rear-ended an SUV carrying two teenagers. The police department also took disciplinary action against Officer Eric Palmer due to that wreck that occurred on Tuesday, May 17, says Assistant Cornelia Police Chief Major Jonathan Roberts.
In a press release issued Wednesday, Roberts says Officer Palmer was reporting to work on the night shift when the crash occurred. He was southbound on GA 105/Cannon Bridge Road near Sweetbriar Drive when he received a text message on his phone.
“As he looked down to see who was texting him, the vehicle in front of him had stopped for another vehicle that was turning,” the release states. “Due to the distraction of the phone, his reaction time was impeded, which resulted in Officer Palmer striking the gold Toyota 4 Runner in the rear.”
A 17-year-old high school student was driving the SUV that was hit; his teenage girlfriend was with him. Those close to the family say the teens suffered “contusions and scrapes.” Habersham County Emergency Services responded to the scene but did not transport anyone to the hospital.
MORE: Police department releases statement on officer-involved wreck
HCES Capt. Matt Ruark says medics did evaluate one subject “and treatment and transport was refused.”
A lesson to everyone
The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles.
The investigation was handed over to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. The Cornelia Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards conducted its own internal investigation.
“The internal investigation shows that Officer Palmer violated state law and departmental policy for texting and driving,” Roberts says.
On Wednesday afternoon, HCSO Deputy Brian Collins viewed the in-car camera footage from Officer Palmer’s patrol vehicle. As a result, Deputy Collins issued Officer Palmer a citation for violation of OCGA 40-6-241.2, Georgia’s distracted driving/hands-free law.
“We are very thankful for the fact that no one was seriously injured in this incident,” says Major Roberts. “We would like to take this opportunity to point out that all though [sic] officers are held to a higher standard, and we receive countless hours in driver training, we are still in fact human.”
The teen driver’s family was considering whether to take legal action. Meanwhile the boy, who will soon graduate high school and got the 4Runner as a graduation gift, posted a photo of his damaged vehicle on social media. The picture includes a thumbs up and caption stating, “Cop just totaled my car.”
Family and friends expressed relief the wreck wasn’t worse.
“He was on his cellphone at 50 or 60 miles per hour, so we’re honestly just thankful the kids are still here with us,” says Karen Parks, who is engaged to the teen driver’s father.
Major Roberts says the department wants the accident to serve as a lesson to all public safety and civilian drivers “that this can happen to anyone.” He cites statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that drivers are 24 times more likely to be involved in an accident while driving distracted.
“As school is letting out soon and summer vacations and activities begin, the vehicular traffic in our area is about to double,” he says. “Let’s work together and put the phones, hamburgers, fancy coffee and make up [sic] down and lets [sic] all travel safer and get where we are going.”
This article has been updated with additional information from the Cornelia Police Department
