Crime & Safety

GCPS Resource Officer Struck by Car; Buford Driver Charged

Gwinnett Officer Ronaldo Jiminez is in serious condition after Wednesday's incident at Lanier High.

A Buford woman is facing charges after an accident Wednesday at Lanier High in Sugar Hill that left a Gwinnett Schools' resource officer in serious condition.

Gwinnett Police said Wednesday afternoon that Sydney Smigiel, 22, of Buford is facing "at minimum" charges for failing to obey traffic directions. Her vehicle struck and injured GCPS resource officer Ronaldo Jiminez about 6:45 a.m. outside the school. Jiminez was directing traffic. The accident also involved another vehicle.

A police news release said Smigiel was traveling southbound in a white 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Buford Highway and intended to continue southbound. Jimenez was directing traffic at Lanier High and signaled for the southbound traffic to stop. Jimenez directed northbound vehicles in the left turn lane to turn left into the school property.

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Smigiel failed to obey Jimenez’s direction to stop and struck Jimenez as the other vehicles were turning left. Jimenez went airborne and landed in the left turn lane for the high school. Smigiel then struck a vehicle turning left head-on and pushed that vehicle onto Jimenez. The second vehicle, a red 2012 Ford Focus, was driven by a 17 year old student at Lanier High.

Jimenez was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center in critical condition.

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Police said the investigation will continue. There were no other reports of injuries at the scene.

Related content:

  • UPDATE: GCPS Resource Officer Injured by Vehicle on Wednesday


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