CLAYTON – A Clayton police officer was injured during a traffic stop. Around 9:20pm Friday, the officer was conducting a traffic stop in the 12000 block of US 70 Business Highway West.
While the officer was in her marked police vehicle with the emergency lights activated, a 2005 Ford Mustang operated by Tracey Ellen Savoy, age 58, reportedly sideswiped and struck the driver’s side area of the patrol vehicle causing significant damage.
Savoy was charged by Clayton Police for driving while impaired, failure to move over, reckless driving, and other traffic offenses. She was placed in the Johnston County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond.
The Clayton officer was transported by Johnston County EMS to Johnston Medical Center in Clayton where she was treated and later released.
Police Chief Greg Tart reminds motorists to slow down and safely move over when they observe emergency lights and equipment activated on Police, Fire, and EMS vehicles while responding to an incident.
“Law enforcement and first responder work is inherently dangerous and one of the most dangerous parts of the job is being out in oncoming traffic conducting traffic stops or investigating motor vehicle accidents,” Chief Tart said. “We are fortunate and grateful that our officer is going to be okay.”
