ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta police are stressing the importance of Georgia's so-called "move over law" after a police officer had to leap onto the median of a road to avoid being crushed by an oncoming car.
Police say the near miss on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway happened Thursday, just two days after Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was struck and killed on an interstate ramp while helping another officer at the scene of a crash.
Sgt. Curtis Davenport tells WSB-TV that Officer Scott Wallins had pulled over to help a stranded driver and was outside his vehicle. As the oncoming car crashed into Wallins' patrol car, he had to jump onto the median to avoid being struck.
Davenport says police work is inherently dangerous, but alert drivers can save lives.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)