Gwinnett police officer was hit while directing traffic
Gwinnett County School resource officer was hit by a car while directing traffic at Lanier High School on Wednesday, February, 13. Student Jorge Quintana said that Rolando Jimenez has always been very helpful. “He’s always good at his job, always has a smile on his face and always takes every situation very positively.”
Jimenez had stopped traffic on Buford Highway at around 6:45 a.m., when 22-year-old Sydney Smigiel kept moving and knocked him back 30 feet. Smigiel then hit another vehicle that struck Jimenez again. He was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center in critical condition.
Jimenez was wearing a reflective traffic vest and had a flashlight with bright orange wand when the accident occurred. Even though there were plenty of indicators for a person to slow down Smigiel did not. The second car had two students inside of it, a 17-year-old driver and one passenger. The student passenger was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Smigiel is likely to be changed for failure to obey an officer directing traffic. Alcohol and speeding were not factors and she was not texting or using her phone.
Source: 11Alive. “Gwinnett School Officer hit directing traffic.” February 13, 2013.