Oconee Fire Volunteer Has Message for Drivers After Car Strike

The Athens Banner-Herald relayed a message from an Oconee fire volunteer about how drivers need to watch for emergency vehicles.

The volunteer was was hit by a car two weeks ago as he was working a fallen tree situation on a state highway. He’s still recovering and told reporters full recovery may take five or six months.

He was struck on the Georgia Highway 316 entrance ramp from U.S. Highway 78. The car at fault did not move over for emergency vehicles as required by law despite flashing lights from police and fire.

The man wants to raise awareness about the “move over” law so this doesn’t happen to other first responders. The law requires drivers to move over into the next lane away from first responders if possible. If not, they must slow below the speed limit.

When he arrived at the scene, two men were trying to move a fallen tree with a pickup. He turned on his lights and told them that there was a fire truck on the way and that the tree was dangerous.

The two men noticed the car barreling toward them and warned the victim. He believes that if he hadn’t gotten that warning, he might have died at the scene.

Our first responders put their lives at risk on the roads every day to clear crash scenes and obstacles. Please give them plenty of space on the roads to do their jobs.