MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A deputy is lucky to be alive, after a driver slammed into his squad car. That driver then sped away, leaving the officer trapped inside.
It was all caught on camera, which is now key evidence in a hit and run investigation.
"Oh, I think it's awful. It's awful," said Megan Hyde. She said she heard screeching tires Sunday night and "Next thing we know we heard a huge crash," said Hyde.
Video from the Rutherford county sheriff deputy's squad car shows what happened.
After dark, the bright lights of an oncoming car crossed lanes, heading right for the squad car.
The deputy turned, as he was hit, and then slammed up an embankment colliding with a tree.
"The whole side of his car was smashed in. He couldn't even get out," said Hyde.
She and her husband ran to help the deputy who was not seriously injured, but the other driver?
"He kept going. He just took off," said Hyde. "T-boned him right here," said Sheriff Robert Arnold.
He said his deputy was en route to an emergency call when he was hit.
"He's very lucky it wasn't in the driver's side door and it didn't hurt him," said Arnold.
The sheriff knew it certainly could have been worse. Chunks of debris remain at the scene, and the squad car is out of commission.
The sheriff confirmed THP investigators did locate the car, a Silver Audi, believed to be involved in the collision.
They have a prime suspect, a 28-year-old female, who will face a variety of charges.
"Leaving the scene when you know you've hit a patrol car. That's just not smart," said Arnold.
