Sheriff’s deputy involved in second bicycle accident

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Sheriff’s deputy involved in second bicycle accident

By Lauren Peeples, Staff writer

After an on-site investigation, the Georgia State Patrol determined Hart County Sheriff’s deputy James Pruitt was not at fault in an accident on Trussell Hill Bridge on Oct. 6.

The accident, which occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m., involved two Hart County men who were reportedly traveling on a bicycle across the bridge when Pruitt struck them.

Adrian Williams, 21, was reportedly driving the bicycle and Wyley Rayton, 20, was allegedly riding on the handle bars.

The men were reportedly wearing dark clothes and the bicycle had no visible reflectors, rear or headlight.

Hart County sheriff Mike Cleveland arrived minutes after the accident.

“It was bump and go accident. No one was hurt and there was no damage to the bicycle,” said Cleveland.

“Witnesses traveling behind Pruitt’s patrol car reported he was meeting a truck in the road when the accident occurred. Other witnesses said they dodged the bicycle earlier.”

Hart County EMS transported Williams to Hart County Hospital for minor cuts and bruises. He was later released.

Rayton refused medical treatment at the scene. No injuries were reported.

GSP was called to handle the wreck and conduct an investigation.

Under Hart County policy, any employee involved in a vehicle accident must be tested for drugs and alcohol.

“All his [Pruitt] tests came back clear,” said Cleveland.

GSP issued two citations to the men traveling on the bicycle for riding on the handle bars and no lights.

On Tuesday, GSP told The Hartwell Sun, the investigation was concluded.

On Aug. 12, GSP concluded a four-month investigation that determined Pruitt was not a contributing factor in a vehicle accident that killed Hart County resident William Joseph Cimino, 33, on March 22. Cimino was riding his bicycle when Pruitt struck him on Reed Creek Highway.

GSP, who was called to handle the wreck and conduct an investigation, reconstructed the accident.

No charges were filed against Pruitt by GSP or the District Attorney’s office.

“After reviewing the entire disc of the investigation, we were told by GSP that there were no contributing factors by James and it was declared an unavoidable accident,” said Cleveland, in August.

Pruitt has served in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He has worked with the sheriff’s office since 1993.

Cleveland said authorities would begin enforcing state laws for bicycles.

“We will aggressively start enforcing the state law for bicycles and citations will be written for violators,” said Cleveland, on Monday.

“We receive several calls a week of bicycles and pedestrians with dark clothes that someone almost hit on Reed Creek Highway alone. I have told the deputies to start writing citations at night.”

Cleveland said state law requires all bicycles traveling on the road to have a working headlight that is visible for 300 feet ahead, as well as a blinking rear light or reflector visible for 300 feet.

“Anyone on a bicycle has the same rights on the road as a person driving a car, but those rights come with laws to follow, too,” said Cleveland.

“We are flooded with calls after an accident like this occurs. We need people to let us know during the fact when they first encounter a bicycle with no reflectors or lights, so we can go out and cite these folks. It can save a life.”

Story created Oct 12, 2011 - 16:30:38 EDT.