Atlanta officer struck while driving motorcycle on I-75, police say

Police at the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 on Dec. 1, 2022. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

The Atlanta Police Department said an officer driving a motorcycle was injured in a crash on Interstate 75 on Thursday morning.

Police said a motors unit officers was struck by a vehicle. They were alert, conscious and breathing when they went to a Grady Memorial Hospital.

The crash was in the northbound lanes on Interstate 75 at Cleveland Avenue, north of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The crash caused lane closures, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Georgia State Patrol said the officers had pulled over a white Chevrolet Impala. The driver stopped on the left shoulder, which wasn't wide enough for the car to pull out of the lane. Investigators said a Hummer was behind the motorcycle officer when it tried to pass cars as they slowed down due to the traffic stop. Georgia State Patrol said the direr of the Hummer "failed to observe the Atlanta officer until the last second," and hit the crossbar of the Atlanta Police Department motorcycle.

A second crash happened, according to Georgia State Patrol, because the Chevrolet improperly pulled over to the left instead of the right. A Toyota Tacoma rear-ended the Chevrolet. The collision caused a pile-up and the Toyota was then rear-ended by a Chevrolet Tahoe. 

The Chevrolet Tahoe driver went to Grady Hospital for treatment. 

Investigators didn't explain if they filed charges against drivers.