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Officer is injured in Saturday night wreck
By Carey Phillips
A law enforcement officer escaped serious injury in an automobile accident Saturday night near Cullowhee while he was responding to a call.
Sgt. John Fox of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was en route from East LaPorte to answer a domestic disturbance complaint near Cope Creek when the wreck occurred shortly after 11 p.m., according to Sheriff Jimmy Ashe.
Fox was using the blue lights and siren on his marked Ford Expedition as he approached Forest Hills Road, according to Ashe.
William Jones of Myrtle Beach, S.C., entered the intersection from the Western Carolina University campus side of Forest Hills Road in a Dodge Dakota pickup truck and hit the Expedition in the side, according to Trooper Brian Parker of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Jones was charged with running a red light, Parker said.
Fox and Jones were treated and released at Harris Regional Hospital as was Jones’ passenger, Jenna McCullough of Maggie Valley.
“With the increased amount of traffic on our highways, especially with school in full swing, it’s important that all motor vehicle operators operate their vehicles safely, taking into consideration their own lives as well as others,” Ashe said.
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