An Atlanta police officer has been indicted after she hit a car while responding to a 911 call, causing the driver to lose an arm.
A Fulton County grand jury indicted Officer Dejoira Phillips on charges of serious injury by vehicle, violation of oath of office, failure to obey a traffic control device and reckless driving.
The incident happened about 11:35 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2018.
Phillips, 27, of Atlanta, was driving her patrol car west on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard when she approached a red light at the Peeples Street intersection, the Georgia State Patrol said in a statement.
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Lisa Williams, 52, of Atlanta, approached a green light at the same intersection in a 2013 Kia Soul. Her car was heading north on Peeples, the GSP said.
“At the southeastern corner of the intersection, there is a building that obscures the view of westbound traffic on Ralph David Abernathy,” the GSP said in the statement. “This building also obscures traffic moving northbound on Peeples Street.”
As a result, the officer failed to yield at the intersection and hit the Kia, the GSP said.
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Both cars were totaled, and the drivers were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Williams’ left arm was severed in the crash.
Phillips remains on full duty with the department, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer Stephanie Brown told AJC.com.
“While the indictment of the officer is not a conviction, we believe this is a promising first step toward justice for Ms. Williams,” said attorney Harold Spence, a partner with the Davis Bozeman law firm, which is representing Williams.
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