Gwinnett Officer Fired After Striking Teen Pedestrians

NORCROSS, GA — A Gwinnett County Police office has been fired after striking two teen pedestrians, seriously injuring one of them, on Sunday.

No charges had been filed Tuesday against officer Scott York, who preliminary evidence showed was driving nearly 100 m.ph. at the time of the crash. But police said the investigation is still ongoing and that charges are likely within the week.

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Sunday, police say York was traveling westbound on Singleton Road near Stonewood Drive in Norcross, responding to a different pedestrian accident in the area.

The officer's car left the roadway, went up on the right curb and struck two people walking on the sidewalk, the department said in a news release.

Jose Coreas-Mejia, 16, remained in serious condition at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville. His cousin, 18-year-old Joel Melendez-Coreas, was treated at the hospital and released.

York told investigators that he drove into the center turn lane in an attempt to pass another vehicle when that vehicle unexpectedly merged into the center lane as well. He said he maneuvered his car onto the opposite side of the road to avoid a collision, lost control of his vehicle and crossed over the center turn lane and both westbound travel lanes before driving onto the right curb.

According to a police news release, York was driving about 97 m.p.h. shortly before the collision. The speed limit in the area is 40 m.p.h.

According to department policies, there was no reason for York to have been driving above the speed limit while responding to a pedestrian accident, the release said.

York received minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital. He has been a Gwinnett Police officer since September 14, 2015, after graduating from the police academy on April 21, 2016.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department