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Man charged with crashing into cop says he didn’t try to flee

Information from the AJC was used in this report

A Kennesaw man is charged with ramming an Atlanta police officer who was working traffic on I-75 at Northside Parkway.

The accident left the officer in serious condition with head and chest injuries, and broken bones, at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The accident occurred around 11:25 p.m. Friday. Officer Osbert Beckles was working traffic near an exit and was in his car when Scott Eugene Welker, driving northbound in a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, hit the officer’s patrol car, according to Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright.

Welker, 45, then fled the scene on foot but was captured a short time later, the GSP spokesman said. The officer, who had to be extricated from his police car.

Welker was taken to the Fulton County Jail on DUI and other traffic-related charges, including serious injury by motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, improper turn/improper lane change and seat belt violation.

Welker told a judge Saturday that he didn't try to flee. He said he was just walking to the end of the interstate off ramp. Welker is on probation for federal wire fraud charges. Welker's bond is set at $58,000.

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