WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Deputy thankful to be alive after nearly being hit by car while directing traffic

Deputy thankful to be alive after nearly being hit by car while directing traffic

NEWBERRY, SC (WIS) - A fatal accident in Newberry County has a deputy wondering "what if."

The deputy, helping work a crash Saturday evening on I-26, found himself in another accident.

"It could have ended a lot worse, not only for myself," said Deputy Chris Keller.

The first crash on Interstate 26 in Newberry County was a multi-car accident that killed an 11-year-old boy.

Deputy Keller responded to direct traffic around the scene.

"I'm directing traffic to this side and I can see him coming, he gets halfway to me and I'm doing everything I can. I couldn't tell you how many feet he was from me when I jumped -- When you know there's no other option, you get out of the way. Then he hit it," Keller told WIS News 10.

Deputy Keller said the driver wasn't hurt, but Keller noticed the man's speech was slurred.
    
Highway patrol arrested 38-year-old Billy Dwayne Jones of North Charleston for driving under the influence.

"It's a good thing he's okay. I'm glad he's off the road," Keller says.

Keller didn't get hurt, but his car did. Looking at the damage, Keller, just two years with the department, has been thinking about the other dangers of his job.

"You come to work thinking it's a good possibility you'll get shot or stabbed in a good fight with a subject. Anything like that never runs through your mind, getting struck by a vehicle," Keller says.

This 23-year-old says something like this wouldn't change his mind about being a deputy.

Reported by Maggie Alexander

Posted by Logan Smith