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Decatur school crossing guard back on duty after months-long recovery from hit-and-run

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2023, Mr. Jeffery Smith was helping a student cross the road when he was hit by a car.

DECATUR, Ga. — Editor's note: The video in this story is from a previous report. 

A school crossing guard is back on duty this week after being struck by a car last September while helping a student cross the road. 

Decatur Police said Mr. Jeffery Smith has returned after recovering for over seven months.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2023, Smith was hit by a red sedan at the intersection of South Candler Street and East College Avenue. The crossing guard walked into the intersection to help a student cross South Candler Street. That's when police said the driver of a red sedan was turning onto the street and hit Smith, and sped off. 

During their hit-and-run investigation, Decatur Police said a Decatur High School student described the car and provided its license plate number. Investigators tracked down the suspected hit-and-run driver, who ended up facing several charges, including hit-and-run and failing to yield to a pedestrian. 

"Welcome back Mr. Jeffery!" the police department wrote on its social media page. "We are so happy to have him back helping students safely cross." 

Credit: City of Decatur Police Department

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