A law enforcement officer who directs traffic outside of Lugoff elementary school in Kershaw county, South Carolina was injured early Thursday morning after she was struck by a vehicle.
Chelsea Cockrell of the Kershaw county sheriff’s office was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic and transported to Prisma Health Richland in Columbia, S.C.
According to a release from Kershaw county, Cockrell (below) was struck at around 7:10 a.m. EDT.
(Click to view)
(Via: Provided)
“The deputy had her blue lights on and was wearing her bright yellow reflective jacket,” the release stated. “Witnesses estimated the speed of the vehicle at 40 miles per hour in the school zone.”
Kershaw county actually posted a video of the incident on its Facebook page … although we would warn our readers the clip is graphic.
“THIS IS WHY YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION WHILE DRIVING … ESPECIALLY IN A SCHOOL ZONE!!!,” the post noted.
Cockrell is “doing well and is expected to be released from the hospital today,” Kershaw county officials noted in their release.
Kershaw county first responders, sheriff’s deputies and troopers with the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) responded to the scene. SCHP will lead the investigation into the incident, we are told.
Vickie Atkins Moniz – who lives in nearby Elgin, S.C. – posted an image of the aftermath on her Facebook page, urging her followers to pray for the fallen officer.
(Click to view)
(Via: Vickie Atkins Moniz)
According to the Kershaw county release, “the driver did stop and admitted he was looking at his cellphone and not the road” at the time of the incident.
Which means a renewed debate on distracted driving is likely headed to South Carolina …
Lugoff, S.C. is an unincorporated community of around 7,500 located in southern Kershaw county – around five miles southwest of Camden, S.C.
Developing …
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