Butts County sheriff's investigator Tommy Middleton awaits medical treatment in his crushed patrol car at the scene of this morning's crash.
Two injured in 341/18 crash
Two local men were injured this morning in a three-car accident at the deadly intersection of highways 341 and 18 in Barnesville.
Tommy Middleton, a Butts County sheriff's investigator who lives on Five Points Rd., was transported by ambulance to an area hospital as was local painter Bill Emerson. Neither had injuries that appeared life-threatening.
Middleton's county-issue Dodge Charger collided with a truck in which Emerson was a passenger. The patrol car then crashed into a third car. A woman and young girl in the third vehicle were shaken up but not seriously injured.
As officers were directing traffic at the chaotic scene, another, minor collision occurred near the entrance to Walgreens. There were no injuries in that crash.
Middleton's county-issue Dodge Charger collided with a truck in which Emerson was a passenger. The patrol car then crashed into a third car. A woman and young girl in the third vehicle were shaken up but not seriously injured.
As officers were directing traffic at the chaotic scene, another, minor collision occurred near the entrance to Walgreens. There were no injuries in that crash.
Defined tags for this entry: Barnesville, barnesville georgia, barnesville georgia news, deadly intersection, emerson, middleton, News
This careless turn by the pickup driver resulted in Tommy having a head on collision with the passenger side of the pickup. The impact caused the pickup to slide off of the roadway and into the grassy area beside Williams Funeral home and the "county issued vehicle" to skid into a car at the red light. Furthermore, the pickup driver admitted that he didn't look before he attempted to cross 341 north in order to make it to Rose Ave. The statements made by the female driving the 3rd vehicle, the statements made by all the other witnesses,the statement of the investigator from an outside county, AND the investigation done by the local law enforcement and the GSP accident reconstruction officer back up these facts.
This only goes to show the ignorant, small town mentality of the bloggers who apparently NEVER made the attempt to get the facts before making statements on this site. Oh....and to "wazzzz-up", Tommy was injured, the driver's side door was jammed and he was in shock due to the accident he never saw coming as he was in route to work to protect people like you. Think before you speak and/or blog because should you be in need of help you will want one of these "lawdogs" to help you regardless of the look on your face at the time.
Also, you really shouldn't base your opinion of all law enforcement on what other officers do. Tommy was trying desparatly to get out of his vehicle to check on the child that was a passenger of the 3rd vehicle. Thanks to Walter Geiger's quick response time, he was able to take pictures of the scene before help could arrive and report it on this site for you. I would hope that if you have any doubt, you would call people whom can offer accurate info. opposed to ignorant and judgemental assumptions. Some of you really need to grow up.
Imagine yourself driving on a roadway and someone pulling out directly in front of you therefore causing a collision. Now, picture that collision. You would have hit the other vehicles side so they would say they were T-Boned BUT you would have hit them straight on.... therefore it would be a HEAD-ON collision for you. DUH!!!!! So much energy spent trying to be sarcastic yet very lttle energy put into thinking out what you post. Why?
You might want to research these things a little more before attempting to relay erronious wisdom.
If you will go back and reread her comment, she said it would have been a t-bone collision for the truck but was a head on collision for him (her husband). If you run off the road and hit a object and total your vehicle (or not), the report normally states that the vehicle hit the tree head on or that you had a front end collision. I don't believe she meant that in any legal context but I was also saw all three vehicles involved and trust me, his vehicle took a "head first or head on or front end" blow when he made contact with the truck. Maybe if you have problems with how she has worded her statements or whatever...you should personally take it up with her. (Actually, I dare you!) I know to be fact the she really loves a good debate and will attack comments made due to assumptions. Or, maybe you are a mind reader and you know to be fact that she meant it in some other way. Here's an idea, put your name to a comment so she can address you and your issues with her comments and she will know (and so will everyone else) who you are. If you are about to say the same applies to me, well, I am not the one attacking comments made by the wife of someone who was involved in a three car accident and was not at fault but had comments made as if he were. And just so you know, it doesn't make any diffence if she is the wife of a "cop", sheriff, senator, president or a hillbilly because at the end of the day.....she is a WIFE. She was concerned about all of those involved and wanted to pass on the info. that she had heard from the officers and been told by them when she asked the vital questions involving the accident. People are so stupid. Get ticked off if noone gives you answers and get ticked off when somebody tells you what they know so far. Make up your minds, will ya!!!!!!!
I thought wazzzup's comment was funny, my Dad would have laughed about it too.
Wife of Lawdog, most peace officers do have a huge sense of humor, they need to in order to deal with the mess us citizens create and expect them to clean up for us on a daily basis.
Please, take some things that are said with a grain of salt and a sense of play.
I hope your husband and the others who were involved in this accident are feeling OK today. Those pains from a hit usually are worse on day 2 or 3.
They need to fire the moron at the DOT who decided to put Yield signs at some intersections with traffic control lights, and make state laws against uninsured unlicensed "things" on roads and highways except for farm equipment in certain areas.
The Yield signs are particularly bad because they train or encourage drivers to take the right of way when turning even when they DON'T have the right of way. If I am coming up on an intersection to make a right on a GREEN and you are making a left, you do NOT have the right of way. They also encourage or train people to roll through red lights making right turns without complete stopping.
People don't know how to handle lights that are out. A flashing red means stop and then go when safe and clear. A flashing yellow means caution. When a normal traffic light is not working, it is NOT a four way stop unless all lights are flashing red or none of the lights are flashing anything. If yours is flashing red and the other is flashing yellow, the other guy does not have to yield or stop. You have the stop sign, not him.
If you watch how people drive it is no wonder we have problems. The DOT yield signs don't help.
And it "drives" me crazy when I approach an intersection and the driver on the other side is waving hands, trying to motion for me to take the right-of-way when it's his to take. I'm sure the driver is trying to be courteous, however, if an accident occurs, I'd be at fault. I've had many Mexican Standoffs at intersections while the driver who should be moving sits there making all kinds of hand motions. He "assumes" I can read his hand signals, but in reality, it's very difficult to see. So, people, please...let's just all follow the rules and we'll be much safer. If you have the right-of-way, please take it!
turn at a certain time like the one at Ingles in Griffin.
If he works in Butts county and he lives on five points why was he at 341/18?
Can we say abuse of privilege?
To the person who thinks that this black charger is the only one in town...come to the recreation department during any softball game and you will see two more just like it that just happen to not be Tommy.
1. Tommy was on his way work. (It does seem
rather conflicted that there are those of
you who question why I know details of the
wreck (yet, you want to know what he
was doing and why he was at that location.
What would entitle YOU to that info.?)
2. Butts Co. and many other outside counties
work with Lamar County Sheriff's Office,
the Barnesville Police Department, the
Milner Police Department and the Gordon
Police on a regular basis. This type of
interaction and traveling to other counties
is key to solving crimes. Plus he lives
here.
3. To the person that wants to know why I
know so many details...well let me tell
you:
-I was at the accident scene within minutes
of it occuring therefore allowing me to
observe the on-scene investigation.
-Due to the "at fault" party being very
up-front and honest about what occurred
and there being plenty of eye witnesses,
there was not a neccessity for an
extensive, costly and time consuming
investigation. The details such as:
length of skid marks and approx. speed
and point of impact were gathered at that
time and the formula used to calculate
speed was done. Keep in mind that the
best accident recreation officer/tech.
worked the scene. (G.S.P. T. Boyles)
-While in the ambulance being accessed, my
husband was still more concerned about
everyone else that was involved than with
his on well-being. He asked other law
enforcement personel for the details.
There was no reason for any info. about
the accident to be withheld. It was a
clear cut situation and since the at fault
driver was openly claiming responsiblity,
there is really not much to try to figure
out.
4. For the person who said he passes them on
Hwy. 36 everyday and he drives "like a
bat out of hell", you have obviously not
been seeing him because there has always
been jokes about how slow he drives.
There are a great many black chargers
with tinted windows locally (personal
vehicles and government vehicles) and
most are unmarked. The tint is dark
enough on the windows that I can not see
inside the car even when it is not in
motion and I am standing near it. You
really expect me and anyone else to
believe that you know without a shadow of
a doubt that you are seeing him driving
wrecklessly? REALLY? I guess you closely
check the license plate of the vehicle
and can readily give that info. or ANY
info that would positivly identify Tommy
as the driver you have made reference to.
5. Noone ever said nor implied that I had a
report or even that I had access to
priviledged info. I simply asked
questions and was given answers (which by
the way IS public record....meaning you
can get it too!) Have you ever heard
anyone say, "Ask and you shall receive."?
Maybe it would be helpful for you to use
this technique when attempting to get
answers.
6. To the "BUTTS COUNTY TAXPAYER",
- Tommy resides in Lamar County
-Last time I checked, traveling to work
is official business. As a citizen of
Butts Co. you have the right to look at
his record for solved cases. It is
impressive. I think the money you pay
in on taxes are used appropriatly where
it involves Tommy.
-Speaking of being a "taxpayer", you
really do need to do some research
before making statements/blogs. Just so
you know, the Sheriff's Office receives
only $0.25 per year from each taxpayer.
That's right.....25 cents. If you don't
believe it, go check it out for yourself.
Also, despite spending most of the day
and evening at the E.R., he still go up
and went to work. He is not the type to
'milk it' and use taxpayers money for a
workman's comp. check. If he had his
way, he would have gone straight to work
from the hospital.
*** Maybe everyone can stop being so hateful and so quick to make assumptions and just come straight out and ask questions. There were troopers, deputies and witnesses who will gladly clear up all the riduculous speculation.
We are keeping Mr. Emerson in our prayers and hope that he makes a very quick recovery.
Secondly, why wouldn't you know details? It was your husband in the wreck and I am assuming that he tells you the truth and that he discussed the events with you. At least that is how it would work between my spouse and myself.
Thirdly, even though I may not agree with "company vehicles" being used for private business (including traveling to and from work) that is the policy of his dept. and if he was doing his job, no one should have complaints.
They are called accidents because they are, in fact, accidents. They are unplanned.
I appreciate you speaking up and hope all involved are recovered or are quickly recovering and that others will follow your lead and help us be the best news source we can in the county.
With regards,
Drew
And your statement of "What would entitle YOU to that info" is absurd. You are not helping anything, you are only provoking argument and making people want to look deeper. You are not impressing anyone with your "special knowledge" of this situation. I would urge you to take my advice, and please, stop commenting and take care of your business at home. You have not, and will not do anyone any good to continue.
Im still trying to think of ANY time a cop has actually helped me. I see them all the time. Theyre usually harrassing someone.
Very few are actualy sociable. Most are arrogant as_holes, you may know the kind. Ooops, youre married to one.
Five points ends on the north end of the county in milner much closer to Butts Co.
If he was on his way to work why drive 20 miles out of the way?
Was he taking the kids to school in a county car or what?
Im glad you think so highly of your husband. I hope he approves of you being on this website "talking" for him. Truth be told, why would either of you care what is said on here...you do have all of the facts.