An Eatonton police officer recently injured in a crash in his patrol vehicle is doing fine but has been disciplined for the incident, according to the police chief.
According to a report from Georgia State Patrol, officer Howard Clemons was traveling north on Oak Street near Recreation Road shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. Due to the wet road from recent rain, Clemons lost control of his city-issued 2020 Ford Explorer patrol vehicle, went off the road, hit a ditch and flipped over. The roof of the SUV struck a tree before the vehicle came to an uncontrolled rest upright in the driveway of 874 Oak Street, GSP Trooper Tyler Easter wrote in his report.
The 70-year-old veteran officer was driving his city-issued vehicle but was not on duty. He told Easter that he was returning from picking his son up from work at Arby’s. His 20-year-old son was in the passenger seat at the time of the accident, and neither were reportedly wearing their seatbelts. The airbags deployed inside the vehicle, but Clemons was partially ejected. Rescue personnel had to use tools to free him from the wreckage. He was taken by Putnam County EMS ambulance to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital for treatment of what was suspected at the time to be serious injuries. Clemons’ son was taken to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Chief Howell Cardwell said Tuesday that Clemons has recovered from his injuries and “has received disciplinary action for the unauthorized use of his vehicle.” Clemons has served with Eatonton Police Department since 1982.