A Georgia Southern University police officer has died after being involved in an off-duty crash.
GS Officer Tristan Michael Clemmons of Statesboro, aged 23, died after being involved in an incident on Highway 67 on Wednesday, September 4th. He was riding his motorcycle and collided with a pickup truck just north of the intersection near Burkhalter Road. He was in the left lane, and the pickup truck was in the right lane. The driver of the pickup truck turned as if to make a U-Turn and entered the left lane.
First responders to the scene say that Clemmons was unconscious when they got there. They called to request Air Evac, however bad weather prevented the flight. Bulloch County EMS took Clemmons to the Savannah hospital, using the I-16 which had just re-opened after hurricane-related contra-flow had stopped.
Clemmons died in hospital on Thursday, September 5th, due to injuries sustained in the crash. Charges against the truck driver are still pending and the GSP Specialist Crash Reconstruction Team are still investigating the circumstances of the crash.
The police force escorted Clemmons’ body to the Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro for the family and other visitors to pay their respects before the funeral. Citizens lined the streets to mourn the respected officer, according to reports by WTOC. Statesboro resident Jeff Mitchell said that the officers put their lives on the line every single day, and that it is important to show how much respect the community has for those who are willing to put the badge on.
Clemmons had been a part of the Georgia Southern force for his whole career, and was respected by his colleagues.
The funeral is set to take place at the Connections Church in Statesboro on Thursday morning, followed by interment at Bulloch Memorial Gardens.
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