COOL SPRINGS, Tenn. (WTVF) — Sgt. Seth Obermeyer knew he signed up to serve and protect, but he had no idea his life would flash before his eyes on Wednesday.
"If I hadn't been where I was, it probably would have been a lot worse," Obermeyer said.
Just after 1:30a.m. he was working an off-duty job on I-65 South in Cool Springs. They had a lane blocked, and their lights on for a construction crew, when he was hit while sitting in his SUV. Both drivers were rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Obermeyer has three fractured vertebrae, broken ribs, a brain bleed, concussion, and bruised lungs.
"You're always thinking that you're going to show up on a call that's a domestic, or a shots fired, or something along those lines," Obermeyer said. "But to think that you got hit while sitting behind two lanes of cones, with four different trucks with their lights on, and this is the outcome, so it's just kind of surprising,"
28-year-old Nathaniel Chapuis was charged with aggravated vehicular assault, driving on a revoked license for a second time, not wearing a seat belt, and having an open container. This is the second time this month that Chapuis has been charged with a DUI. Chapuis is believed to be okay, but his exact condition is not known at this time.
"I've already forgiven him, I have no hard feelings or animosity towards him, I just hope that they can take this whole experience and think back on it, and go on to improve themselves going forward," Obermeyer said, "For me, it is what it is, for him you just kind of wish it would finally click for him, and that he would stop doing the same activity over and over."
Obermeyer said he looks forward to going home to his wife Chelsea, and his 4 dogs. Eventually, he will head back to work at the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.
