Deputy John Thomas

A Patrolman with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office is recovering from injuries he suffered this afternoon from a traffic crash in East Shelby County.

Investigators say just before one o'clock, Deputy John Thomas, 36, was responding to an emergency call when another driver failed to stop for his patrol car.

Deputy Thomas, who has served with the Sheriff's Office since 1997, was traveling north on Raleigh- LaGrange Road with his blue lights and siren activated.

Witnesses told investigators Thomas slowed at the intersection of Raleigh- LaGrange at Macon and came to a brief stop.

As Thomas entered the intersection, a Ford Taurus pulled in front of the squad car. The squad car hit the front passenger door of the Taurus. The driver of the vehicle, Martha Cruz, 38, of Cordova, was not hurt.

Deputy Thomas was taken by helicopter to the Regional Medical Center.  He had head, chest and leg injuries. Deputy Thomas and the other driver were wearing their seat belts.

Sheriff's Deputies have charged Martha Cruz with:

• Failing to Stop For an Emergency Vehicle
• No Driver's License
• Violation of the Financial Responsibility Law

At the time of the crash, Deputy Thomas was responding to a call at a house in the 1400 block of Bridgewater Road. A person at the house had called Deputies and said someone there was armed with a gun. The armed person had left when other Deputies arrived. No one was hurt in that incident.