By Joe Johnson
A veteran supervisor with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources was killed in Madison County Thursday evening when struck by a car, according to Trooper First Class Tim Meyer, commanding officer of Georgia State Patrol’s Post 32 in Athens.
Meyer said that 49-year-old Stanley Curtis Elrod of Danielsville was a pedestrian on the shoulder of Hunt Road at about 7:40 p.m., when a car left the roadway and struck and killed him.
According to the DNR, Elrod was a 28-year veteran with the state agency and at the time of the incident was “on duty and physically training in Danielsville.”
The DNR said Elrod held the rank of captain and was supervisor of DNR’s Region 2 office in Gainesville.
“He will be remembered for his selfless service and complete devotion to the safety of his fellow officers, fellow Georgians, and his state’s natural resource,” the DNR said in a prepared statement. “We are beyond grateful to have worked with and known Captain Elrod, as he truly made us all better through his example. The hearts of the 1,800 members of the DNR family go out to the Elrod family during this time of great sorrow.”
Myer said, “The investigation is ongoing but preliminary findings are that a Maroon 2008 Chevy Cobalt was traveling north on Hunt Road when the driver failed to maintain his lane and struck a pedestrian that was on the southbound side near the shoulder. The pedestrian was deceased at the scene on arrival of first responders."
The driver of the Cobalt, 31-year-old Arvil E. Harmons of Danielsville was arrested at the scene and is facing numerous charges to include first degree homicide by vehicle, according to Meyer.
Harmons was transported by troopers to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The incident continued to be investigated by GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team B in conjunction with troopers from the Athens post, Meyer said.