GCPS Officer Reported 'Serious but Stable'

The wife of injured Gwinnett County Public Schools resource officer Rolando Jimenez said Thursday that he was hospitalized in "serious but stable condition" after being injured Wednesday (Feb. 13) when hit by a motorist at Lanier High in Sugar Hill.

Melissa Jimenez's statement, which was released through a GCPS spokesperson, said her husband underwent surgery to address internal bleeding and to set his jaw, which was broken during the accident.

He also suffered a broken pelvis and a knee injury, the statement said.

"While we know that he has a long recovery ahead of him, we are thankful that he is alive and look forward to the day when he is able to return home and to the work he loves," the statement added.

The driver in the accident, Sydney Smigiel, 22, of Buford, is facing "at minimum" charges for failing to obey traffic directions, Gwinnett Police said.

Smigiel's vehicle struck Jimenez about 6:45 a.m. outside the school, where Jiminez was directing traffic. The accident also involved another vehicle.

Police said Smigiel was traveling southbound on Buford Highway and failed to heed Jimenez's signal to stop. Her vehicle struck Jimenez as northbound vehicles were turning left. Jimenez went airborne and landed in the left turn lane for the high school. Ms. Smigiel then struck a vehicle turning left head on and pushed that vehicle onto Jimenez.

The second vehicle, a red 2012 Ford Focus, was driven by a 17-year-old Lanier High School student.