Franklin County (GA) Sheriff’s Deputy Killed on Traffic Accident Scene

It’s long been known that responding to traffic accidents and enforcing anything on the roadway that requires an officer to be outside of their vehicle is dangerous. In this case, sadly again, it was proven when Deputy Sheriff William “Bill” Garner was struck by a vehicle in the median on a Georgia highway.

Deputy Garner had stopped to assist on the scene of a traffic accident when the unrelated vehicle left the roadway and struck him. The man who was driving the vehicle was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide. Deputy Garner was transported to the closest hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Deputy Garner was a thirteen year veteran of law enforcement having served twelve years with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office before moving to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office where he’d been serving for the past year.

Deputy Garner, 53 years of age at his passing, is survived by his wife, parents and a brother.