Deputies, patrol officer praised for assistance after single-car accident

Editor:

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, I was driving on Interstate 20 on my way to Atlanta to catch a plane to Reno, Nev. for a job.

As I was driving, the rain was coming down at a blinding rate. I had hydroplaned and overcorrected. My car did a number of 360s, luckily not hitting any other cars, went backwards from the shoulder of the highway, down into a ditch, jumped a couple feet in the air, landed and finally stopped. I must have been a good 15 yards off the highway when I got out of the vehicle.

I am writing this letter to let you know there were two officers initially on the scene. First to show was a female Georgia State Patrol officer who was very professional. I wish I knew her name. The second officer, Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smolen, was without a doubt extremely professional, and Columbia County should be grateful to have his services.

Smolen on that day waited for another officer (while off the clock) with me, to make sure no harm would come and made sure my health, benefit and well-being were all right as well. It was a traumatic experience for me, and Deputy Smolen should be rewarded in some kind of way.

The third officer who relieved Deputy Smolen was a Deputy Chambers, and he was extremely professional in his demeanor, and how he directed traffic to get my car back on the interstate, where I eventually went on my way onto Atlanta.

Please give these officers some type of honorarium. They did their job to protect and serve the public interest.

Jason Keller, Murrells Inlet, S.C.