Update: Hall County Board of Commissioners approved the $227,349 settlement at their regular meeting Thursday, May 25.

Original story: The county has reached a settlement with a traffic guard formerly employed by Hall County Sheriff’s Office who was struck by a vehicle near East Hall High School in 2021. 

Lester Harris, who suffered major injuries to his back, left leg and shoulder after he was hit at the intersection of East Hall Road and East Hall Drive, will receive $227,349 from the county. Three students helped save Frazier before medical help arrived.

Approval of the settlement by commissioners is expected during a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Hall County Government Center.

“It’s a workers compensation case,” Hall County Attorney Bill Linkous explained after a work session Monday. “Workers compensation is not like a normal lawsuit where there’s liability…workers compensation applies where there was an injury by someone who was employed by the employer within the scope of their employment.”

Linkous said there was “no doubt” Harris suffered “severe injuries.”

The incident occurred about 8 a.m. Nov 19 when Leroy Trendale Macon, 20, of Gainesville, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu north on East Hall Road approaching the school zone, according to the Georgia State Patrol. State patrol post commander D.A. Rathel said Macon “disobeyed the school crossing guard” and struck Harris with the front right side of his car.

Macon was charged with driving in violation of license restrictions, failure to exercise due care, failure to obey authorized person directing traffic. The case remains open. A date for Macon to appear in court has not been set.