By Marcie Young
The Charlotte Observer
GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — A Granite Falls police officer was recovering Monday after flipping his patrol car and undergoing surgery over the weekend at Carolina Medical Center, authorities said.
Office Roger Crosby and Sgt. Jon Hicks were responding to an emergency call for service in separate cars at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, when a large dog darted into the roadway and was hit by Hicks, said Sgt. D.D. Dawson of the Highway Patrol.
Crosby swerved to the left to avoid hitting the dog and overcorrected when he tried returning to the roadway, Dawson said, and he began to slide.
The car spun off Dudley Avenue, just off U.S. 321A, and rolled three times, hitting a utility pole and a large rock, Dawson. Crosby, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car.
Crosby was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center and had surgery on his shoulder, Dawson said. Authorities said they expected Crosby to be released from the hospital this week.
No charges were filed, Dawson said, because Crosby was “operating his vehicle properly for an emergency response and was forced to react to an instantaneous hazard.”
Copyright 2007 The Charlotte Observer