Atlanta police Officer Christopher J. Niezurawski has been placed on paid administrative leave after he allegedly drove drunk and on the wrong side of the highway, leading to a crash with a bus. According to WBTV, Niezurawski was spotted at around 4:45 a.m. driving north on the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 near Spaghetti Junction. Officers saw his car stopped going the wrong way, but the vehicle was hit by a Greyhound bus full of passengers before any preventative action could be taken.
Niezurawski has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, and operating vehicle the wrong way. He has reportedly been relieved from duty with pay while an internal investigation is conducted by the Atlanta Police Department’s office of professional standards. Niezurawski has been on the Atlanta Police Department since June, 2004 and was assigned to the Special Operations Section/Motor Unit as a motorcycle officer. He was involved in an accident while on duty last year when another motorist pulled into his motorcycle and left him hospitalized for a few days.
The Greyhound was traveling from Virginia to Atlanta and was carrying 49 passengers at the time of the crash. The bus sustained minor damage, and none of the passengers were injured. Niezurawski was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with “visible head injuries,” including a gash across his head, but was released later in the day. The accident occurred on I-85 between Northcrest and Pleasantdale Roads.
Some of the most tragic accidents in Georgia and the United States are those that result from individuals driving under the influence. More than a third of Georgia State accident fatalities involve a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you or someone you know is involved in a drunk driving accident, a dedicated DUI accident attorney can help you through the difficult process to attain the highest form of legal recourse possible. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
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