KERSHAW COUNTY, SC. — A heart stopping video of a sheriff's deputy being hit by a car in a school zone on Thursday is being used as a "wake up call" for motorists to pay attention.
The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina shared the video on Thursday.
"THIS IS WHY YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION WHILE DRIVING...ESPECIALLY IN A SCHOOL ZONE!!!," the agency wrote on Facebook.
Deputy Chelsea Cockrell was directing traffic at an elementary school when she was hit at 7:10 a.m. The sheriff's office says she's recovering at home after being released from the hospital.
“This was an eye opening incident that could have ended a lot worse. This needs to be a wake up call to everyone out there who is willing to put their conveniency over safety," Sheriff Lee Boan said.
Deputy Cockrell had her cruiser's blue lights turned on and was wearing a bright yellow reflective vest when she was hit, the sheriff's office says. Deputies estimate the driver's speed to be 40 mph at the time.
According to the sheriff's office, the driver admitted he was looking at his phone when he hit the deputy.
