FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. – A Spalding County Sheriff’s Deputy died Tuesday evening after suffering an apparent medical emergency that caused him to crash his patrol vehicle while on duty.
The Sheriff’s Office has identified the deputy as Joe Crumpton, 62.
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What Happened
The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10. According to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Crumpton was driving a transport vehicle when he likely experienced a medical event, causing him to collide with another vehicle before leaving the roadway.
Emergency crews from Fayette County responded to the crash and radioed for Spalding County authorities. First responders found Crumpton, who was in uniform, unconscious. They broke a window to extract him and immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR and the use of a defibrillator.
He was rushed to Fayette Piedmont Hospital, where medical teams worked for over an hour but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Remembering Deputy Crumpton
Deputy Crumpton served in the Detention Division, having joined the Sheriff’s Office in May 2023. He was a U.S. Army veteran and is survived by his wife, Rose, and seven adult children.
“The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office asks for your prayers for Deputy Crumpton’s family, friends, and coworkers during this difficult time,” the agency stated in a release.
An autopsy to determine the exact cause of the medical emergency is pending with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.