HAMPTON - An officer involved in a Sept. 22 collision that left a civilian dead has resigned from his position with the Hampton Police Department.
Sgt. Jeffrey Cook resigned from the HPD effective Feb. 16, said Police Chief Perry McAlhaney. This information was released after The Hampton County Guardian submitted a S.C. Freedom of Information request regarding updates on Cook's employment status. McAlhaney declined to comment further.
Cook had been assigned to strictly administrative duties since the fatal collision that took place in the heart of downtown Hampton that left Joseph A. Cook, Sr., 65, of Fechtig Road, Early Branch dead. Joseph Cook died from massive internal injuries at the Hampton Regional Medical Center following the accident, according to the Coroner's Office.
A two-month-long S.C. Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MATE) investigation reported that Sgt. Cook contributed to the collision.
The matter has since been turned over to the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office, where it remains under investigation. Solicitor Duffie Stone said Wednesday that he has reviewed the MATE report and has requested additional information from the Highway Patrol, which he has not received yet. Stone said that he could not state whether his office would be seeking charges against the officer at this time.
Attempts to contact Cook for comment by press time were not successful.
Sgt. Cook was responding to an "ongoing domestic situation" at a residence on 109 Edisto Drive when the collision occurred, said McAlhaney in November.
The HPD 2006 Ford Mustang driven by Cook collided with a 1999 Ford Expedition driven by Shirley Watkins, 58, of Varnville, who was not reported injured. Joseph Cook was a passenger in the vehicle and absorbed the brunt of the impact.
Sgt. Cook was also injured in the collision and was airlifted to a regional hospital, where he was released the next day.
The collision occurred around 1:35 p.m. in clear conditions, on U.S. Highway 278 near one of the busiest intersections of the Hampton area, just one block from traffic lights at the county courthouse. The area has a posted 30 mile per hour speed limit.