GSP: Deputy's Lack of Due Regard Causes Wreck

A wrecked Habersham County sheriff's patrol car sits at Tom Arrendale Interchange at US 441/GA 15 and Toccoa Hwy. Saturday night, Oct. 12.Photo byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

UPDATE: The Georgia State Patrol has released additional details on the Oct. 12 wreck involving a Habersham County sheriff's patrol car.

According to the report, Deputy Zachary Beam "failed to use proper due regard," which led to the crash. Beam suffered a broken arm in the wreck.

The GSP report states that, just before 10:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Beam was traveling north on Ga. State Route 365 in a marked patrol car (a Dodge Charger). He approached the intersection at Toccoa Highway with the car's emergency lights and siren activated.

At the intersection, Beam "performed a left turn on GA 17 entering the intersection" when a southbound Mazda CX-5 driven by Abby-Gail Smith "struck (Beam's) Charger at an angle in the intersection."

Beam's Charger came to an uncontrollable stop in the intersection. The Mazda came to an uncontrollable stop off GA 365 striking a curb, utility pole and a crosswalk pedestrian traffic signal, according to GSP.

"(Beam) will be wrote [sic] up – probably receive some time off," Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell said Monday. "...the supervisors will do the paperwork and make a recommendation. They'll look at it, and based on any prior history or any issues, they'll recommend whatever punishment that they deem necessary to fit the violation."

Photo byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

Photo byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

A drone shot shows the interchange where the crash occurred, about 5 miles east of Clarkesville, GA.Photo byDaniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

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A wreck involving a Habersham County sheriff's patrol car and passenger vehicle shut down a section of US 441/GA 15 for nearly two hours overnight.

The wreck was reported around 10:43 p.m. at the Tom Arrendale Interchange at Toccoa Highway outside Clarkesville.

Photos from the scene show extensive front-end damage to the patrol car and what appears to be a Mazda CX model up against a utility pole.

Habersham County Emergency Services, sheriff's personnel, and state troopers responded to the scene. The road was closed at the interchange for nearly two hours as troopers investigated the crash and crews cleared the wreckage.

At this point, it is unclear what caused the wreck and whether there were any injuries. Now Habersham has contacted the Georgia State Patrol and sheriff's office for more information.