Truck rolls into cruiser

A Cherokee County Sheriff's Office deputy was treated and released from Upstate Carolina Medical Center early Monday following a pursuit on Goldmine Road that ended with a truck rolling into a police cruiser.

Deputy Brian Mullinax was pinned in his car door during the collision, according to Lance Cpl. Jeff Gaskin of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, which is investigating.

According to Gaskin, the incident began at about 1:37 a.m. Monday when another deputy, Lt. Jason Burgess, attempted to stop Jimmy Lee Bright, of 257 Goldmine Road, who was driving a 1976 Ford truck, in the area of 6th Street and Beech Street.

With Mullinax as the secondary pursuit officer, Gaskin said the chase ended at 257 Goldmine Road.

Gaskin said Bright pulled into his driveway. His vehicle's transmission was not placed in park and it rolled back into Mullinax's vehicle, pinning the deputy between the apex of the car door.

Sheriff Bill Blanton said Monday morning Mullinax had been treated and released from the hospital.

"They just checked him out and let him go home," Blanton said.

The officer had some bruises, but otherwise appeared to be alright, the sheriff said.

Mullinax had pulled up behind the truck and was just getting out of his vehicle when the collision occurred, Blanton explained.

Bright was arrested for third offense driving under suspension and failure to stop for a blue light, the sheriff said.