Georgia State Patrol investigating incident
A Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) School Resource Office deputy will be back to work in the next few weeks after he was was struck by a car.
A report on the incident from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) identified the officer as Deputy William Gooch.
Although the officer has a concussion and is “still sore,” he is recovering well, GCSO Captain Frank Copeland said.
He is currently at home and out of the hospital.
Gooch is still awaiting a follow-up from a doctor, Copeland said.
The GSP report said Gooch was hit by 80-year-old Carole Semenchuk.
According to a GCSO press office, the deputy was directing traffic on Highway Five South in the area of Legion Road at Bobcat Trail when struck.
“Keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” GCSO Captain Frank Copeland said. “We appreciate the support that the community always gives us.”
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) is investigating the incident.
Sheriff Stacy Nicholson has spoken with Gooch’s wife and communicated to the deputy through her.
According to a recent study by the University of Iowa, driving errors that cause crashes increase with age, especially among those 75 to 84 years old.
Driving can be very difficult for those in this age range, the study found.
The GSP’s report on the incident states that its investigation is not yet complete.