Fort Oglethorpe officer hospitalized after hit by possible drunk driver

FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. (WDEF) — A Fort Oglethorpe police officer went to a hospital with injuries Tuesday morning after a driver struck his patrol car.

James Cook (Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office)

Officers have since arrested the suspect driver and identified him as James Cook. They transported him to the Catoosa County Jail. Police say he will be facing charges.

According to the police department, officers learned of a possible DUI suspect in a black SUV just before 5 a.m.

Fort Oglethorpe Sergeant Woodward then spotted that car on Larry Drive, near Cloud Springs Road. Officers say the car was stopped on the wrong side of the road, in the southbound lane.

The sergeant then stopped in the westbound turning lane of Cloud Springs Road to observe the suspect car. Then, police say the suspect drove forward and crashed into the driver’s side of Sergeant Woodward’s car.

An ambulance then took Sergeant Woodward to the hospital. They said he had injuries from the crash.

The Georgia State Patrol is now investigating this incident.