Columbia County Deputy Dies in Single-Vehicle Crash
A 38-year-old deputy with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office died early Thursday morning following a crash on Ray Owens Road.
According to authorities, Deputy Jeremy Crookham's 2021 Jeep Renegade veered off the roadway around 11:48 p.m. Wednesday. Preliminary reports indicate an unknown reason caused the vehicle to run off the road, subsequently hitting a fence before striking a tree and overturning.
Deputy Coroner Martha Lappe pronounced Crookham dead at 1:35 a.m. Thursday. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office expressed deep sorrow over the loss, offering condolences to Crookham's family and urging the community to keep them in their thoughts during this difficult time.
Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. No further details regarding road conditions or potential lane closures have been released.
This incident marks a significant loss for both the agency and the local community.