WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL) -- A deputy in Williamson County was injured after crashing his patrol cruiser while responding to a call.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened at 6:35 p.m. on November 22, when the deputy was responding to a call involving a loud gunshot and a person yelling in Pittsburg.
The deputy was driving north on Pittsburg Road near Khoury League Road when the deputy hit a deer in the road, the sheriff's office stated. This caused the patrol car to leave the road, down a steep embankment and came to a stop at the bottom of a ravine.
The sheriff's office said the deputy had to be extricated from the vehicle and taken to a hospital with severe, non-life threatening injuries.
The deputy was stabilized at the hospital and treated, however, the sheriff's office said he may be transferred to a St. Louis hospital for further treatment.
"The injuries sustained by our Deputy are a mere sample of the risks law enforcement are routinely exposed to. We are thankful this Deputy was not more severely injured and will support him and his family as we anxiously await his return to service", stated Sheriff Jeff Diederich.
The sheriff's office said the patrol vehicle he was driving appears to have been traveling at a normal speed when the crash happened. The deputy was also wearing his seatbelt, the sheriff's office reported.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office thanks the Illinois State Police, United Ambulance, the Williamson County Fire and to the several good Samaritans for their assistance.